Should Christians Be Afraid of God?

I know the Bible says we should fear God, but I'm terrified of his punishment for my sin is that type of fear biblical that's just one of the questions will be answering on today's edition of core Christianity hi this is Bill Meyer along with Pastor Adrian Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. Would love to have you join us you can call us right now with your question. At 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 and you can also email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com. First up, today we have a good news story about a 15-year-old from Ohio who is serving elderly folks in his community. His name is Jeffrey wall. He just turned 15, but he is the founder of Golden age karate and outreach program that he began last October to teach seniors at the Friendship Village retirement community in his hometown of Dayton Ohio now just two days before his final karate class.

The state of Ohio gave a shelter in place order so Jeffrey decided to start a YouTube channel so his senior students could keep up with their lessons will now other seniors all across the country are checking out Jeffrey's lessons online. He says he's glad he can help older people stay active even if they have to stay hunkered down and held every I'm in have to check that out and that bill did you ever take karate growing up. I actually took kung fu for believe it in Seattle. Bill yeah and well you know I wasn't that great at it. I think I had trouble with the different forms like the squawking Eagle and the praying mantis and all those things, an idea which was knowledge. So anyway, I think this young man has great things ahead of them. What a great heart is Michael. It really is cool and just another one of those encouraging uplifting stories that you bring to us every day going initiated I know and all her listeners due to you know during this time there so much negativity and so much anxiety. We want to do our best to put a smile on your face as we start off our programs.

Let's get to our first question of the day and this one comes from Leanne. She emailed us and she said it seems like there are a lot of questions or theories about what happened with the end of the gospel of Mark.

How does one explain what seems to be an abrupt ending to a nonbeliever or someone questioning the faith, especially when reading this gospel a Leanne thank you so much for your question. And you're right, there are a lot of questions about the end of Mark theories we really don't know what happened to the end of Mark's gospel. Some people might be unfamiliar with this entire discussion.

So to say you if you open up to the gospel of Mark the very end. In chapter 16 and you go to the end of chapter 16, most Bibles will have a little a little note. Sort of explains after verse eight what you have in verses 9 to 20 is probably not a part of the original text is others all sorts of questions about what happened to Martin because if you read verse eight it says and they went out and fled from the tomb for trembling in astonishment had seized them and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid as we will read that basic bookmarks certainly could not have ended his gospel with this picture of fear disciples being afraid, trembling. The original ending of Mark. Must've been lost somehow in don't know what happened to it or even if this was supposed to be Mark's original NME.

There are some scholars who say that Mark is ending his gospel in verse eight, kind of abruptly so there's a lot of debate about this and that. I think we can say with some confidence is that verses 9 to 20 are probably not a part of Mark's original that they were added sometime later another probably still pretty early. There's some evidence that one of the church father Justin Martyr, who lived in the second century was familiar with the longer ending of Mark's gospel, and there have been at least four different endings that have been proposed as a shorter one.

There's kind of a medium length ending.

There's the longer ending that is in a lot of our our Bibles and some people really troubled by this. Sounds like your potentially talking to someone who is questioning whether or not we can trust the Bible because of the longer ending of Mark.

But here's what I would say this longer ending in Mark's gospel doesn't call into question any biblical doctrine. Actually, most of it is corroborated by the book of acts, so I'm talking to a non-Christian or a skeptic about Mark's gospel and textual criticism, and that's that the technical phrase for the study of New Testament manuscripts. I emphasize that there is no doctrine of the Christian faith that is even remotely endangered by having short or long ending of Mark. I think that's really important to sometimes people will say Leanne. We have all these different manuscripts and translations of the Bible, how can we really trust that we have God's word that we know what the Scriptures teach, but it's actually the abundance of New Testament manuscripts that we have the allows us to confidently say that were were certain of what that the Scriptures teach is not like work relying on one manuscript to say this is exactly what what was said no we have hundreds thousands of manuscripts that we can compare with each other that help us to know this is what the original was so it really is one of the things that should bolster our confidence in the Scriptures and allow us to talk to others to skeptics and say look, we know that we have the word of God we can be encouraged by these words because God is not only inspired his word, but he's preserved for us so that we can be confident in what he said and wrote one of the things I love about the book of Mark is.

It's the one gospel that really focuses on Jesus's emotions. If you read the different situations that he encountered. It often talks about how he was feeling at the time and you see that our Lord I experience the full range of human emotions of joy and sadness and even frustration and anger of the Pharisees and so I love reading that because it shows so clearly Christ humanity. Yeah, I mean it's it's the doctrine of the incarnation and it's so comforting to us because it reveals to us that we have a God, Jesus who can sympathize with us.

Jesus, the second person of the holy Trinity, you know, when he assumed humanity.

He assumed everything that it is to be truly human. He knows what it is to be sorrowful to experience hunger and pain in his humanity and that's that's the beautiful thing and so when we pray to him when we come to the Lord, we can say God you know my suffering. In a way that you know no one else does even and so it really is as you say, but one of the beautiful things about the Gospels and in particular as you mentioned that the gospel of Mark your listening to core Christianity with pastor Adm. Sanchez and you can call us with your question.

At 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. By the way, you can also record your question Boris by going to our website at core, Christianity.com/radio just look for the little radio microphone on the right-hand side of the page. Click on that and you can record your question right there it or let's go to our first call of the day. I thank the Lord.

They are my question about the people that are murderers, stereo killers, horrible people that do horrible thing.

How can I overcome the bitterness toward the things they do well they go to heaven, God and are saved, you will go to have the elevator and I know it's wrong for me to do that.

Thank you God bless you Nancy and and I praise the Lord with you that you know the Lord that you are saved and you know what I also feel those things to that anger.

There is a holy anger which I think we should have as the people of God and those who harm others especially vulnerable because the wrath of God to burn hot dear member what Jesus said in Mark chapter 9 verse 42 whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea is the anger that you feel when you see evil in the world is not a bad thing. It's a holy thing. It can be a holy thing. The question is what are you going to do with that anger. Nancy, if it's seducing you a bitter hatred.

If it causes you to sin, to stoop to someone else's level then there's a problem. This is the verse that I would point to the verses that I would point you to Romans chapter 12 verses 17 through 21 Paul said 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. To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him if he is thirsty, give them something to drink for. By so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good that you notice Nancy God is the God of vengeance. Second Peter chapter 2 verse nine says that the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, and this is where we have to be careful because unlike you were saying well you know if if somebody is just committing these heinous crimes and they say all I believe in Jesus, so I'm good are they going to be stapled the answer is no because if someone is truly born again if they really believe in Jesus. They've turned to him, they recognize that those things are sin they hate those things we can't say I love God and I love my sin and live for and in my sin simultaneous just doesn't work like John says in first John, if we say we love God, but we hate our brothers were deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. And I think there are people throughout the world today who are deceived to think I can live. However I want and I do live however I want and I said a prayer when I was a teenager I was a little caterer or just not too long ago and I asked Jesus into my heart, so I'm fine they've never trusted in Jesus never turned to him. God is a just God and as these passages bring out he's a God of vengeance of God's anger to bite these heinous things by these crimes. In the Old Testament in first Samuel chapter 2. You had the sons of Eli. These priests were committing these crimes. These heinous things.

Taking advantage of the people, and when their father rebuked them in first Samuel two verse 25 he said to them, if someone sins against man, God will mediate for him. But if someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him and the text says this is such an interesting verse, but they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the Lord to put them to death. Woe then you think about that verse that I cited earlier at second Peter 29 the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment.

So know God does not have a flippant view of these people that are committing these heinous crimes that does that mean that there beyond the mercy of God know you think of Saul of Tarsus. Talk about someone who is doing horrible things and he was dragging Christians into prison abusing them abusing the church and yet Jesus extended mercy to him. So I think it's our job to pray for our enemies as Jesus said to not grow in hatred, bitterness to be angry about sin, about the evil in the world, but ultimately to say God we trust you. Vengeance is yours. I can't take that into my own hands. I trust you and I know that you are a just judge and that you are good and that you're going to deal with this one way or another got you either can it, you're either going to judge, or you can extend your mercy, to change this person we pray that God does change. Those who are sitting in these grievous ways as only he can.

It's only the grace of the Lord Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit, they can do it and so we pray Nancy for those who are sitting in these horrible ways that the Lord would bring justice and that he would bring repentance. Thank you for your question sister and I think a lot of us can can sympathize with it your listing to core Christianity with pastor Adm. Sanchez. I'm Bill Meyer and we will let you know about a great opportunity to get personally involved in the core Christianity ministry that we want you to join what we call the inner core. It's the team of people that is helping us make this program a reality. And here's what you receive with the with the commitment of $25 or more to be one impacting the lives of hundreds thousands of people that listen to this program, hearing the good news of the gospel and the core doctrines of the Christian faith you're partnering with us laboring side-by-side in the gospel every month you can receive exclusive updates there to keep you informed on how were reaching the lost and how you can continue to pray for our mission and prayer is so important. As I suggested to Nancy it really is a work of the Holy Spirit transforms the changes lives and throughout the year. You're also going to receive access to free and discounted resources that we create because your monthly donation helps us underwrite those resources and so would you if you been blessed by this program, consider joining the intercourse I said it's a monthly donation of $25 or more and you're really going to be an encouragement to us in a blessing to countless others who listen to the program. We would love to have you join the inner core and again the phone number to call 833-843-2673 or go to our website at core, Christianity.com later. Let's go to an email question that came in this one from Hymie. Hymie says several times in the Bible it says to fear God. I always heard that means like a respectful fear. Most of the time I find myself fearing God like I'm terrified of him. I worry about his punishment.

Yet, I messed up and sin all the time which makes me fear even more. I fear the end of time. When were judged is that type of fear biblical. How should my view of God be in respect instead of fear I may thank you so much. The fear of the Lord really is so important. I mean, just think about all the times and in the book of Proverbs that it's discussed. Proverbs chapter 1 verse seven the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, or Proverbs chapter 9 verse 10 the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the holy one is inside the fear of the Lord is he I think of what the prophet Isaiah said or what the Lord fed through the prophet Isaiah did this when I will look to the one who trembles at my word.

So how would understand this, you know, is this the sort of slavish fear of God is going to crush me, and I think there are a lot of Christians that live with that fear where you know the moment they do something wrong there. Imagining God in heaven as the cosmic judge with this great big mallet and he's just okay you did it again. I'm in a crush you. I don't think that's the perspective of the Lord, that we should have not, as followers of Jesus, the fear of punishment. The fear of judgment. There are people who should have that fear those who are outside of Christ, but in Christ, having been adopted into the family of God were under the good father you think of what Jesus that you know if you being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your father give good gifts to Holy Spirit to those who ask. I'm I think that this is one of the most important things for us as believers to grasp today is that God is good. The liar early in the garden that Satan told Adam and Eve was that God did not have their best interest in mind has got really said you can't have that that he knows that that the day you eat of it you can it be like and he doesn't want that for you. He's not good. It's a lie. Our God our father is good and so I don't think that this means we should have that kind of fear of judgment. In fact, first John chapter 4 verses 17 to 19 says this by this is love perfected with us so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment. That may sound like right now you're saying that's what I don't have. I don't have confidence for the day of judgment jungles. I say because as he is, so also are we in this world there is no fear in love but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

We love because he first loved us. I take John's words there to mean that we as followers of Jesus.

God does not want us to have that fear of judgment of condemnation. He wants us to be perfected in love through what through the love of God for us in his son Jesus Christ. This is why over and over again. We go back to the gospel because it as we understand the depth of God's love for us in the gospel as you understand how I met God's love for you.

Despite the fact that you fail still.

Everyday we all do it as you understand that love that the fear that sense of condemnation begins to melt away. Not because were perfectly righteous, not because we always do the right thing because we know that the love of God covers a multitude of sins. So what does it mean for us. Then, as believers in Jesus Christ, to fear the Lord, will I think there is that element of reference. There's that sense of not wanting to displease or dishonor the one who has loved us so well, not wanting to bring reproach or shame on the name of God the name by which work were called. I think there is a genuine fear there but it isn't the fear of condemnation.

It is the fear of God's wrath is the fear of dishonoring the Lord so I met II just want to encourage you if you know Christ if you're in Christ. You don't have to have that fear that that dread no Jesus has borne that judgment in your place so that you can embrace his love for you and the peace that should come with knowing that love God bless you Jaime Jaime thanks so much for your question. Would love to get your questions as well. You cannot email us at questions at core, Christianity.com course you can always call us. Here's the phone number it's 833-843-2673. That's 833 the core and they drill us go to another call right now my joy and I am from Northern California and I have it send of a guiding when we get angry at another person, click angry at God. I believe that anger, some pride and pride opposes God. I thank you for answering my joy depends as I said earlier you. Not all anger is seen God in the Bible times is described as having grown angry because of his people sin. Think of judges chapter 10 verse seven. So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines into the hand of the ammonites.

It was so interesting about that phrase there.

The anger of the Lord was kindled. You see throughout the Old Testament. It's actually a Hebrew idiom.

If you were to translate the Hebrew text wittingly. It would read something like the Lord's nose grew hot for the Lord's nose burned the picture to people. For example, in a heated discussion know what happens if you're in an argument with someone or your growing angry blood begins to rush to your face, your nose might turn red.

You think, especially in the ancient near East widow in the in the land of the Bible, the world of the above you can imagine two Middle Eastern men having this discussion or this dispute.

Getting angry there there face is turning red, their noses growing hot. It's this idiom for anger in the Hebrew Bible what the Bible says that God was angered because of our sins. Now, of course, you know, we know that God it is in perfect control of all things. God doesn't fly off the handle. He sees the sovereign Lord. But as Scripture is describing to us the sort of picture of the Lord is he's revealing himself to us in these ways through Scripture.

I think it's okay to say but not all anger is bad you think about Jesus in John chapter 2 or later in the synoptic Gospels, you know, Mark, Luke and Matthew where it describes Jesus cleansing the temple he was angry. Why because the worship of God was being desecrated in the text tells the Jesus of zeal for your house has consumed me. Sometimes it's okay to be angry at another person. If were angry because they're desecrating the worship of God or harming the vulnerable, as we are talking about on an earlier question that we received but if were angry at someone else for simple reasons or for prideful reasons and we are sitting and even if our anger is toward that person arson is ultimately against God.

I was a ask yourself what angers me about this other person is it that they are blessed that they have something I don't. Is it jealousy why what what really causes me to be angry here most of the time. What angers us with others isn't that God is offended by their actions. It is in some sin. If that were offended. For some reason it can be pride can be insecurity can be jealousy and I think that's what we have to examine our own hearts and say Lord what what's causing this inside of me and asked for God's forgiveness and if were angered for righteous reasons. Because of sin, then we go to the Lord and we say God bring about change. We pray for that person we say Lord transform them so that they don't do these things shed your grace upon them, and I think that's the attitude that we have to have but it is important for us to understand this, you know, sometimes we think that Jesus, for example, you know, he was just gentle Jesus, meek and mild. You never got upset and a soft and soft spoken, will no Jesus was angered about certain things, especially when his people were being harmed and when the worship of his father was being desecrated and those kinds of things I think can also anger us as believers, but the reality is this. This should make us gracious all of us were at one point enemies of God. The blood of Christ is more powerful than anything that's the hope that we have and that's why we can extend that grace to others as well. Thanks for listening to core Christianity to request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us@corechristianity.com and click on offers in the menu bar or call us at 1-833-843-2673 that's a 33.

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