Does God Love Some Christians More Than Others?

God loves some Christians more than others. That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity will hi Abdul 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. You can call us with your question. At 833, the court will be taking calls for the next 25 minutes or so. So jump on your phone right now. 833-843-2673.

You can also post your question on one of our social media sites you can always email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com burst up today let's go to Tyler who is calling in from Iowa.

Tyler what your question for atrial Michael in Genesis 15 got half of the symbol of the covenant. He is making with Abram and it said in verse 11 when birds of prey came down on the carcasses. Abram drove them away that have any significance to the covenant itself is a great question. I mean, just off the top of my head, Tyler, I, II think this is just sort of a circumstantial comment that's being made. You know, these animals have been killed there cut in half and he's preparing this this ceremony on the Lord is going to pass through the parts and so right, it may make sense. You have these these vultures, these birds of prey coming down in and Abram is driving them away. I've heard I've heard some pastors make you know this or try to make that pastoral take away points when they when they preach through this text and say something like in a guy does all the work we just need to keep the doubts at bay that the vultures so on is over, but I don't know that we want to read too much into that what this is is a covenant ceremony in in in particular, it's what's sometimes referred to as a self mallet victory oath that the text says is God speaking to Abram. I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess the Lord. How am I to know that I shall possess it and he said, bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old ram three years old, turtledove, and a young Pete pigeon and he brought them all of these cut them in half and laid each half over against the other and he did not cut the birds in half and when the birds of prey came down on the carcass Abram and drove them away and then of course the sun goes down. Abram falls into this deep deep sleep ears again the word of the Lord, and he sees when the sun went down. Verse 17 a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passing between these pieces know what's the big take away here. The big take away is that God is is taking on the responsibility in this coven upon covenant upon himself. There is the self mallet degree oath. Abram is asked how can I know that you really get to keep your promise God that you're gonna bless me as you said, and God's is look at if if I don't, may I be like these animals that have been cut in half a minute really is this this solemn promise that God is making to Abram and in one sense, I thought I I think of when I preach through Genesis is right when you know it's a picture of anticipating the gospel, God's commitment to his promises and to his people. Even taking the curses on himself and that's precisely what he did for us in Jesus Christ his son and so there is so much here, but I don't know that we need to read into that specific verse there and in verse 11 and that's my view now, but maybe I'll help figure something else out later. Appreciate your question Tyler and I pray Lord blesses you. All I can say it is a pretty scary image.

I want that to happen in my house yeah will think yet. Thankfully, Bill.

There are no more making covenants like this anymore is this is you know the no need to to cut the animals in half and so thank you okay because I'm vultures about part two. Yes, this is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez.

We love to hear from you. 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 Jimmy who is calling in from Nebraska Jimmy watcher question for Pastor Israel on hey Jimmy it's going well. How are you doing good and recently looking into this part series on YouTube about and Charlie know too much about it right now, but what are your thoughts on 501(c)(3) churches so 501(c)(3) a thing as a tax-exempt status. Most churches are Myanmar church church I pastor is 501(c)(3) and I imagine that that's truth of most churches. This this YouTube thing that you are watching it was it was eight. Were they saying like, and we shouldn't do that because it sort of ties together the church with with government or what was the what was the point.

That's about 15 part and they're all like our long, but I will watch like 1 to 2 of them so I'm not too enlightened on all of it yet but I just got a call and see what your thoughts are most churches are. You have that 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status which I'm I'm grateful for a minute, doesn't it didn't in my mind doesn't pose practically speed has opposed any issues for us. I'm able to and then do and when would no matter what faithfully preach the word of God and so inside you know, I'm not sure what specifically this guys getting into, but III wouldn't. I don't see an issue within and like I said most churches you go to all the churches I think for that matter.

We are going to be 501(c)(3) churches and so yeah if you have something more specific deadline. As you continue to go through this.

This 15 part thing. Feel free to give us a call again I'll try to answer a more specific question, but I would say you know you can be the week we have that taxes and status and be completely faithful to Scripture and with the Bible teaches has impose an issue for for me. I know doesn't for many churches. Jimmy, thanks so much for your call. Appreciate you listening the core Christianity by the way, we have a YouTube channel here at the core and you can watch a drill live on YouTube every day at 11:30 AM Pacific time. You can also send him a message through our YouTube channel. If you have a question form, so feel free to check out YouTube right now. And of course you can always email us your question as well at questions at core, Christianity.com will.

Whether you are currently in the working world retired or maybe a teenager or young adult just about to enter the workplace.

We have an excellent resource that were offering you today gets a book written by pastor and author Tim Keller. He's retired now from pastoral ministry be pastured Redeemer Church in New York City for many many years and you've probably heard of enemies is written many books. This book in particular offering is called every good endeavor and he brings together a lot of insight into just just work and what it means for us is as Christians to of value the work that God is given to us and to work as unto the Lord. And so this is just a really practical book, one that we think will will bless you, will encourage you and you can get it core, Christianity.com for a donation of any amount once again it's a every good endeavor connecting your work to God's work by Dr. Tim Keller. You can find it by going to core Christianity.com/offers that's core Christianity.com/offers. While you're there check out some of our other great resources. Many of them absolutely free and there will really be helpful to you as you grow spiritually in your Christian walk will be to receive voicemails here at the core. You can call us 24 hours a day and leave your voicemail for us at 833 the core. Here's a voicemail I came in a couple days ago from one of our listeners named Richard hi Bill hi Pastor a drill I really enjoy your guises show and am blessed by it often.

May God bless you guys. I have two questions today one essay drill is can you speak Spanish and the second question is more theological. I understand God has a special love for Christians that he doesn't have for people who are not in Christ.

But my question is does he love.

Some Christians more than he loves others.

Thank you so much.

I put me on the spot a little bit here with with the first question about whether or not I can speak Spanish. Yes, I can but I really need to spend more time practicing specials that you might my first language is a little kid and then over time, I just in in our home we stopped speaking in Spanish and so I can use some practice belief of the intellect and yes and then and then with regard to the theological question. Does God have favorites in his family. Does he loves some of his children more than others. I think of it within the gospel of John you. John often talks about the disciple whom Jesus loved you get this as it is this you know the one that he loved most about the building. John is is referring to himself. I think that that's that's the case, there in the Gospel of John as the disciple whom Jesus loved that out of the he saying Jesus loved me, and not the others. I think there is this sense in which we as followers of Jesus Christ have to have a real personal understanding of the love of God for us to meet the part of faith trusting in God and knowing his goodwill toward us.

His love for us and so while I think we do distinguish between the type of special or particular love that God has for his people write as many as I love II read by discipline and chasten. We read in the Scriptures. I don't think that we should we shoot we should say well you know there are some Christians who were just there super sanctified and God loves them more God has exhibited his love to each and every one of us in the exact same way. First John chapter 4 verse seven beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone does not love does not know God, for God is love in this the love of God was made manifest among us that God sent his son, his only son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins. This is this is where we see the pinnacle of God's love for humanity. For us, for his people. It's at the cross where God has exhibited it so clearly in this essay. This is so important for each and every one of us to understand because if we look at our life circumstances.

There are times when we might be tempted to think God you really love me if you really love me why did I get that job or why have I you to receive this diagnosis and so on and so forth. It's easy for us to look at our life circumstances and to tie the love of God together to those those circumstances when in reality here's where God says you you can see my love for you very clearly it's that I sent my son, my only son into the world for you and I can get something that each and every Christian clings to the each one of us should say I am the one Jesus loves me, he loves us and we should cherish that we should we should rest in that and we shouldn't question you know that and think will. Maybe God loves this person down the street more than we look at how blessed they seem to be.

They have the things that I wish I had no don't don't think that way.

God loves you and he told you that very clearly by sending his son into the world for you. I meant some good counsel. Thanks for that April.

This is core Christianity with pastor Gabriel Sanchez. Our phone lines are open. If you got a question about the Bible, the Christian life doctrine theology, you name it we would love to hear from you but maybe you have some doubts about the Christian faith were open to your questions as well. The number is 833, the court, that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Sarah calling him from Las Vegas, Nevada. Sarah what your question for a drill hello hello hello T. Question our devotion to Christ bring him glory and glory of important the relationship with him really matter and he really love that. Recently my relationship with the Lord and unlovable guy that really matter what it offers glory and devotion to him gospel to all that matters.

Thank you. Hey Sarah, thank you for that question and I'm I'm sorry to hear that you feel like you've been stunted in your walk with the Lord, and especially so you sometimes I feel unlovable. I think that there are many of us who can who can relate to you. There and who have experienced that in the Christian life doesn't mean that you're not a Christian because you have those feelings. Massage want to come a moment right now to pray for you, sister, and then get your answer. Lord and Q4. Sarah, thank you for this. This question that she's asked. I pray for her Lord that you would give her a sense of your love Lord even if she she wrestles with that even if she feels at times not lovable God that you would help her to see your love so clearly in your son Jesus and that she would just see it Lord in and grasp intellectually Lord but that by the grace of your Holy Spirit. Her heart would be illuminated to to know as as Paul said to the Ephesians. The height depth of breath.

The length the love of Christ. So would you be with our sister would you encourage her and strengthening her and her in her faith. Lord and just again, thank you for for that question. In Jesus name, amen. So Sarah mean that it seems like there's there's the that the struggle here with rustling through God's sovereignty and the fact that you know God is going to be glorified in our lives and and wants to be glorified and then also the sense that God God loves us and the Bible is very clear that he he's entered into this relationship with us that he wasn't obligated to do and I think this debt gets to some of your question because God is totally free. He didn't need to create humanity. He didn't create humanity just to be beasts urged me to his slaves worshiping him that kind of thing that was you read the early chapters of Genesis. That was the view of many of the ancient near Eastern pagan religions that God had made man is the sort of slave to just work away but but mankind in Scripture. Humanity is like the crowning jewel of creation God is made us as these kings and queens if you will, of his creation called to imitate him and to reflect him in his love, and in his glory, and he invites us into that he's made us partakers were told through the great promises. Peter says of the gospel partakers of the divine nature. He sent his son into the world so that we who had been separated from God due to sin might be joined once again adopted into the family and so everything in the Bible says meant God.

God loves us and he's demonstrated his love through sacrifice through the length that he's willing to go to redeem people who don't deserve redemption. He's not obligated to do this, but he's he's chosen to do this is reached down with his righteous right hand.

For people like me and for people like you and oftentimes we can we can look at our lives.

I think and say think this guy really love me. Could he really love me. I think part of the reason we asked that question is because we were aware of our sin were aware of where we fall short and we tie God's love for us to our own performance to our own purity to our own holiness makes sense when we do this because isn't this just how the world works. We love that which is good and beautiful and helpful to us and actually glorifies us in one sense it.

If you will, but that's not how God's love works. It's not that God loves us because were great and sinless and beautiful God's love is what makes us beautiful.

If you will. It it beatified is it's what it's what transforms us to the grace of the Holy Spirit in the free gift of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, so that I can say to you as a fellow sinner. Jesus does love you and the way he's shown you again what with the previous question is, as you mentioned God's love was manifested among us in that he sent his only son into the world so that we might live through him.

And so when you question God's love because you look at your life and you feel like I'd I'm I'm just not as good as I should be aware or whatnot look up to Christ to that objective. Promise that we have in the gospel to the shed blood.

There on the cross because it's there that God says I love you and it wasn't when we were doing great it was and we are righteous up. Paul says in Romans five God demonstrated his love demonstrated his love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us and so if if God showed you his love. When you were shaking your fist at and were yet sinners, enemies of God rebels if he if he showed us his love, then, and there's no reason to doubt that he loves us.

Now, as his adopted children. Even though we still struggle with sin, and so may the Lord bless you and be with you and he's glorified in that responsive love that we give to him that you give to him that that relationship that we have with him through Jesus Christ and so may God be with you and bless you, and continue to give you a sense of his love, and to sanctify you every day in Christ and by the work of his spirit. Federal thanks so much for pointing us once again to the objective finished work of Jesus on the cross is not about what we do what we done how we feel it's about what's been done for us and that is just such an awesome, so thank you this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to Anthony calling in from Texas. Anthony, what yeah like it's you Anthony are you there here at the day question about red heifer. Recently I heard that they they came to Texas and they found a red helper and are on their way back to Israel. Now I wanted to know where to mark where were at in the Bible and what are your thoughts about this and how you feel what I feel.

I feel great think that it I wanted to be honest with you, but I don't think that it it it speaks anything to the brother.

Some people you know there waiting for the temple to be rebuilt for sacrifices to be reinstituted and then that will go to passages like the book of Ezekiel and in other places in the said we think that there's an appeal and end times temple that's rebuilt that that's a part of that the end times are eschatological time table, but there are number of problems with that view.

Some people start talking about you know the temples can be rebuilt or we need to rebuild the temple, I would just say what no, that's not biblical because the book of Hebrews the entire book of Hebrews talks about how all of those sacrifices under the old covenant were types and shadows of the reality that came in Christ, so that the point of the book of Hebrews is don't go back to that. Don't try to reinstitute that kind of worship. If you do your denying the sufficiency of Christ's work so there's there's an interpretive error and there's a there's a theological error here as well like this idea that we need to go in and rebuild the temple for what Christ is the true temple, and he is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. And so when you hear people talk about. We need to rebuild the temple of the temples. Can it be rebuilt, that I just it it does not. It doesn't fit with what Scripture says and so I don't think it should cause the panic and III don't think it should be something that we were trying to do.

Frankly it's it's there's warnings about this throughout the New Testament again, especially in the book of Hebrews and so we can rest confident that there are no more sacrifices that need to be made because the once for all sacrifice of Jesus Christ is sufficient to forever cleanse our hearts from sin so hey thanks Anthony. Forgive us a call. God bless.

This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to Jack calling in from Nashville, Tennessee, Jack, what your question hey everybody how are you doing well.

How you inject I'm doing alright.

I was just remembering the question I had the book of Leviticus, whether like different level in a punishment for that big, then I would longer like outcome like some people were stone some people were in out like another like they would pay off first then in the third way I was just wondering like why there was a variation and I'm sure that you know God would never and I want people that and get the vehicle that he takes no pleasure and that in the death of the wicked, but I just wonder like outcome like down it became a thing or like an artist like different such severe punishment and adverse them. Six yeah man, thank you for that question. I preached in the book of Leviticus. Some years ago and I had a blast preaching to the book of Leviticus.

One of those books you just think why preach through that book will there's a lot of good reasons to go to the book of Leviticus in particular to use that phrase types and shadows pointing us to Christ, but you also have these laws related to worship that the cold there. You know it of Israel. You know that the sacrificial system, the sacrifices, especially the early chapters of Leviticus. The offerings, the burnt offering and so on so forth. But then laws about being holy and distinct from the nations, and then there is the sort of variation right like that.

There are some things high-handed sins. If you will that have more severe punishments and info.

Typically the severity of the punishment is determined by the kind of sin that is being committed. Is it a sin against God in the worship of God is it is it bringing corruption to the holy community of faith. There were some sins right that that you know it, as you say, there were offerings that you could make and that, let me just say it's interesting because there are certain things that are better capital sins. If you will. You think that could result in capital punishment but generally see that happening in the Bible, I mean David for example, send in ways that that should've resulted in his death, and yet God showed him mercy.

So it's not as black-and-white, if you will, in terms of the application of some of these some of these laws and so that I think that there's a little bit of flexibility there but again, especially were talking about those those civil laws related to disobedience with the stoning and and and whatnot. But those were part of Israel under the old covenant.

Specifically, as his political body were not bound by those civil laws anymore today, but not in the kingdom of God, not even in the church in the way that they were then. And so it's good to make that distinction. Hopefully that bring some clarity. Douglas 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.

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