I Mainly Go to Church Because I Don't Want to Burn in Hell, Is that a Problem?

I've committed a secret sand that is hidden from everyone except God. Do I need to confess to the people I've hurt or will God forgive me if I only confess it to him.

That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity hi this is Bill 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 right now with your question. At 833 the court. That's 833-843-2673 and you can always email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com during the code 19 pandemic women trying to share a bit of good news with you at the beginning of each program and Israel have a beautiful story about an American students studying in Europe, but I want to share with you when the coronavirus struck the country of Spain Stacy Toups family begged her to return home to Ohio, but Stacy didn't even consider leaving not only did she decide to stay in Spain where she studied medicine. She remained and volunteered to work at a hard-hit nursing home to help those most vulnerable. Stacy is a fluent Spanish speaker and she was more than halfway through her fourth year at the University of Madrid's faculty of medicine. When the coronavirus started to be felt in that country after she started working at the nursing home. One of the two doctors on the staff came down with the virus. So Stacy covered her shifts as the most senior medical person on site is not a cool story and that really is a mean such a beautiful thing.

And what an active service. Did we have a member of our church, whose brother is a missionary in Spain right now and so I know they've been hit really hard is it been really difficult out there and and yet they're out there preaching the gospel in seeking to be faithful to the Lord. Sounds like this young woman is is really looking to to serve as well so I love stories like that were doing our best to share those stories with you on a regular basis, and if you run across a story.

Maybe somebody in your community and your church that you know about that asserting a powerful way. Please let us know. Again, you can email us at questions at core, Christianity.com later. Let's go to our first call of the day.

A question that came in from Michael in Indiana and is it okay to pray in no way before you got it. Thank you. Hey Michael, it's more than okay.

I mean I think it's great you think that person first Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 17 were posted to pray without ceasing. There isn't a moment in the day where it's not good to pray and that rhymes that was pretty good read Psalm 55 verse 17 this evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan and he hears my voice the sort of idea of praying to the Lord throughout the day, morning and evening there. Some say that it was related to the temple sacrifices in the Old Testament you know you had the morning and the evening sacrifice so that the people of God wherever they were would stop in the morning and and stop in the evening and pray to the Lord you think about the book of Daniel were told that Daniel would pray morning and evening. He would set his face to pray and to seek the Lord. I think we ought to as well. You know there's that prayer that Jesus taught his disciples in Matthew chapter 6 the Lord's prayer our father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread that word daily there in Matthew chapter 6 verse 11 is really mysterious is the Greek word at BU stealing and for many many years.

A lot of people struggle to understand what this word actually meant there was that old theologian by the name of origin who said I think that that the New Testament writers just invented this word because it really is in a word that's used very much and in the ancient world.

There are some who thought that the word referred to kind of like a daily grocery list. There was even a papyrus that was discovered. They seem to use the word in the context of basically an ancient grocery list and so some people thought well maybe this means you know, give me just might data necessary groceries for the day. The things that I need for today.

Others have said it refers to give me bread of the coming day. In other words, give me bread for tomorrow God provide for tomorrow or give me the bread of your future kingdom, knowing that in the Old Testament.

It talks about that banquet that were going to have with the Lord in the kingdom of God is are some people that will maybe. Jesus is referring to give me the bread of the age to come, the bread of heaven. Probably the you know what I think Jesus is referring to there.

When he says give us this day our daily bread. I think he's talking about every morning coming before the Lord and saying God provide for me today. Note we often talk on this program about how were dependent upon the Lord for our salvation.

I need the grace of the Lord in order to forgive all my sins I can't save myself, but did you know your dependent upon the Lord for everything. It's not just the big stuff not just your eternal salvation, but your breakfast, your daily bread the same way that the children of Israel in the Old Testament. You know they were as they were traveling through the wilderness you are collecting manna day by day, just enough for today. We should come before the Lord every day. Every morning I think Michael say God once again, I need you today. Give me this day my daily bread. And so I would say it's great to pray to the Lord in the morning in the afternoon in the evening, pray without ceasing, and you can do that because Jesus is made a way for you to approach the father freely. So I would encourage you to pray and now Michael pray all day long. That is such a great reminder.

I have a friend or a drill who works in a corporate setting, and he said that during the day during his office day, he tries to remember to pray in one of the these signals that he uses to just remind himself is when he's walking down the hall to the restroom. He stops to get a drink of water and he says what he said the drinking fountain. It's like I'm in a pray and thank God for this water for another day of work another day of blessing, just that we cannot we can do things throughout our day to remind ourselves to connect with our heavenly father. Amen. Let's go to another question. This one was posted on her Facebook page and it comes from Missy and she says I'm a Christian, I committed a sin that is hidden from everyone except God. This sin affected many people but they don't know it. I have asked and beg God for forgiveness. I don't feel like I'm forgiven. Is it because I haven't confessed the sin to the people involved is that required will one Missy thank you for your question. Of course feeling forgiven and being forgiven are two different things but sometimes I think we can deceive ourselves with our repentance. There's that great line and in a little book which we've offered on this program before midweek and put on the show notes for today's episode is Dietrich Bonhoeffer's life together. It's a book about Christian community has a chapter there on confession and the fact that we as Christians because of the work of Jesus on our behalf.

We can be honest about the fact that were were sinners, we can confess our sins, and he asked at one point in that chapter. Why is it that we have such an easy time confessing our sins to God who is holy and perfect and righteous and judges sin.

We have such a hard time a difficult time confessing our sins to our brother or sister there their centers just like we are and one of the things he says there and I remember when I first read it being so convicted Missy's thesis could be that were deceiving ourselves with our confession that were really actually just confessing our sins to ourselves and granting ourselves absolution, but in reality we just want to hide. We don't want to repent. We want to hold onto our sin and covered up brush it under the rug of the truth is, we can confess and repent directly to God because of what Jesus Christ has done, the only priest that we need to go through is Jesus Christ, our high priest, but oftentimes people who claim to do that aren't necessarily doing a minutes. It's kind of a scary thought but sometimes I think people can say all I've repented. But we are really doing is for just trying to cover our sin were trying to hide it.

Were still clinging to it holding onto it, brushing it under the rug. Maybe, but not wanting to part ways with if you've sinned against someone and it's causing them pain.

I encourage you to go to that person and confess to them. I guarantee you it will feel like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders, that there may be repercussions but repentance, true repentance, says I'm tired of hiding. I'm owning my own sin and asking for God's mercy, come what may, Lord, my life is in your hands. I mean, I think repentance doesn't defend or protect. It says God I submit to you. Forgive me. I'm not sure exactly what it is that you've done Missy. I do want to say you know if someone has done something that is illegal or is a crime and it's necessary for us to confess that I know man who committed a heinous crime and was incarcerated for many many years. He was recently released from prison.

He came to faith in Jesus. Shortly after he committed the crime and he was encouraged by a Christian after he had come to faith that because he had turned to Jesus. He didn't need to confess to the authorities eventually the police picked them up. There was an investigation and the they found out that he'd committed this crime and he went to jail for a long period of time, and I was having a conversation with this brother and he says you. I really wish that pastor would've encouraged me the right way. It was wrong for me not to confess and I think that there are certain instances like that, you know, if there's crime involved, and we need to confess when you confessed to the authorities and it's a part of how we walk in the light. So I think I would just want to say Missy, we can confess directly to God. But there is something so healing cathartic, even about being able to go to our brother or sister and confess to them. It gives accountability.

It gives us a sense of walking in the light, and especially if you sinned against someone and it's caused pain while that I think it's necessary for you to go to them in it and it may be difficult.

But here's what you can do it, because the gospel of Jesus Christ is bigger than any sin you commit.

We can walk in the light because we have forgiveness, you know, oftentimes, when we hide when were unwilling to confess it's because we have a low view of the gospel to people in the world they have to hide. They have to pretend like they are better than they are. What there's no solution. There's no answer to their sins we have, you have Missy the blood of Jesus Christ, we turn to Jesus and repentance. He forgives us that doesn't mean that there are consequences to our sins. But here's the thing were knocking to be condemned because of what we've done God accepts us he embraces us so I want to encourage you and go to the people who have been affected if it's if it's prudent if you're able to do it and say forgive me.

I've sinned you don't know what their response is going to be like, but you can trust the Lord, and you can know that as you trust in him and as you confess your sins he's the one ultimately who forgives you and embraces you.

God bless you Missy good counsel. Israel and Missy will be praying that God will give you the strength of the courage to make that confession to those people as I drill said you're listening to core Christianity. I'm Bill Meyer with pastor Adm. Sanchez and you know is we been reflecting on some of the difficulties that our nation is going through having a sure confidence in the work of Jesus Christ on the cross on our behalf is so critical.

I mean, it really is and were just talking about it right there to Missy. I mean knowing what Jesus has done for you. The power of the blood of Christ is so freeing.

It allows us to be honest, it allows us to walk in the light to be transparent with each other. I don't have to pretend there's so many people that are walking around right now pretending that they got the mask on. You know what we don't have to pretend we can be honest about the fact that were sinners, not because it's okay to sin, but because the blood of Jesus Christ washes away all of our sins. And so we boast in the cross and in the gospel nets we want for you as you listen to this broadcast. We want you to know the power of Jesus Christ for you because that message makes the difference that is eternal so would you please consider sending a gift to help us continue to preach this message as a thank you for a gift of $20 or more will send you our new core Christianity Bible study on Paul's letter Romans. We talk about digging into the gospel and knowing what it is that Christ is done for you. All goes deep there in the book of Romans make a donation and received this study on the book of Romans and head over to core Christianity.com the do that. That's core Christianity.com and on behalf of the entire team here core radio. Thank you so much for your support and your prayers. And of course you can always call us if you want to learn more about that Bible study on Romans or to make a gift.

The phone number is 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 a billing you still thinking about Missy's question. I love that verse in James chapter 5 verse 16. The New Testament encourages us to be able to confess our sins to each other. James said therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working and so this is one of the things that I think is envisioned for the New Testament church. It's it's a group of people that are able to be honest and walk in the light because of the blood of Jesus. We can confess our sins to God and be honest with each other. We have that hope that incredible hope and assurance which is guaranteed by the gospel later. Let's go to another call came in.

Once again our phone number here is 1-833-843-2673 yes Greg and Coffelt also call mom 65 years old and basically I was raised Catholic. I no longer go to the Catholic Church. I go to a Lutheran Church but my biggest problem is my main driving forces. I don't want to burn in hell. Is that a problem thank you Greg, thank you for your question in our minds. They'll never forget.

Years and years ago in Sunday school class. I think I was probably five years old and my mom is been taking me and my brother who was a year to a small evangelical church. We were raised Catholic but we didn't really go to mass very frequently and we are trying something new and I remember the Sunday school teacher. I still remember her name.

Laura talking about how we need to love Jesus and I raised my hand and I asked a question.

What if I don't know if I love Jesus, but I know I don't want to go to hell my chin quivered at me. I still remember it vividly. Tears filled my eyes and the teacher could see that I was getting emotional and she asked me to stay after class and she prayed with me she prayed for me to receive the Lord. I remember as a little kid that had experience being afraid of how you know hell is a real place and I think that the fear of hell drives people to God at times but that shouldn't be our only, or even our main motivation being a Catholic Church or in a Lutheran Church isn't what's going to get you into heaven, either any Jesus saves so great. My question for you isn't where you go to church but do you know Jesus. Do you trust in him instead of yourself to save you. Do you recognize that apart from him.

You're hopeless. The fear of hell doesn't save us either faith in Jesus does and Jesus doesn't want you to live with this overwhelming terror of condemnation, John said in first John chapter 4 verses 17 through 19. By this is love perfected with us so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, 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 think the motivation that God wants each of you to have each of us to have as followers of Jesus is not fear of hell. It's love. It's the love of God for us. We love because he first loved us and you find that fear is a motivator, but it's not nearly as strong of a motivator. It has the love of God in the gospel for us is and so I'm grateful brother that you are in church that you want to know the Lord that you are serious about the fact that hell is real what you don't want to be there. No one wants to be there but you know what God wants you to know not just the fear of hell, but his love for you in his son Jesus Christ, and the more you grow and that understanding knowing that he loved you first. Even what we weren't doing anything. This is what Paul says in Romans chapter 5. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. The more we understand that the motivation begins to be not fear, not dread of condemnation, but an overwhelming sense of God. You have loved me so well. I want to serve you and brother. That's what the Lord wants you to know he wants you to know his love for you in Jesus Christ. Jesus is done for you so that you might be motivated by that love to love him. Greg would encourage you to go to our website. A core Christianity.com to learn more about God's love for you and what grace is all about a man and you know their section article that I wrote over there core Christianity.com. If this is something you wrestle with as a believer in obeying God out of fear as opposed to love. I wrote an article called obeying God out of slavish fear. You could just google it or look it up on our website. Core, Christianity.com and unpack this idea little bit more. Why cut want you to know his grace and that should be your primary motivation for obedience and service to the Lord to check that out.

This is core Christianity.com with Bill Myron Pastor Israel Sanchez and you can always email us your questions are email address is questions at core, Christianity.com Federalist came in from Brett them. A lot of weight gets put on doctrinal unity and churches are parts of denominations for that purpose, however, is there biblical warrant to give weight to geographical unity, even across denominational lines. Further, how would we properly balance doctrinal unity and geographical unity. Yeah live by value geographical unity in the neighborhood where I Pastor, there are several different churches, some of them were similar to. Theologically, others are totally different.

Some I would even call churches because the things that they teach. I value every church that is preaching the gospel faithfully and we might disagree on church government or have different styles of worship, but I know that Jesus is present where the word is being preached and I want to work side-by-side with all gospel preaching churches to faithfully love and engage the community that I made an ethical pastor should do that as well but one benefit is I know I can't reach everyone alone. Not in my community and not everyone is necessarily to be drawn to my particular style so it's it's great to be able to work together to encourage people I've had times that as a pastor were some will come to our church in the right fit for them. There saying, for whatever reason, you know that they're looking for something else because I have these relationships with other pastors in our community who are of the same denomination baby don't do things the exact same way but who I know are preaching the gospel, who love Jesus I can encourage them to to go to one of these other churches and it's a way that we kind of bless and serve each other in an area. Another benefit is that we can really learn from each other. Even though we have differences.

I want to learn from as many people as I can.

There are things I found that other pastors, even other pastors in different Christian traditions are doing better than I am. It could be leadership development could be small groups.

It could be mercy ministry in the community and I want to learn from those people and their things that they can glean from my own Christian tradition as well. So that night I think it geographical unity can be a really good thing that we do want to be careful is where the focus is just that, and we don't have this bond together in the gospel because ultimately what what unites us as Christians is Jesus is the message of the gospel. The free forgiveness of our sins and so I think we do want there to be a balance of it. Certainly in the New Testament, it seems like doctrinal unity is key. It's the most important thing any Paul said in in first Corinthians chapter 15 I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, and that he begins to talk about the resurrection of Jesus the gospel so II think with that. It's good for us to be able to work together in a particular area to have geographical connections and unity for the good of the communities that we serve, and for the advancement of the gospel in our drill. I was thinking a couple years ago I was traveling traveling to Boston Massachusetts for business and I happen to visit a church run on Beacon Hill right near the graveyard were Paul Revere is buried and the church was just this amazing evangelical church in an area that doesn't have a lot of evangelical churches and gospel was being preached and I remember just the joy of wow I found here. I am geographically so far away from home, and yet doctrinally man they were right there. They were preaching the gospel, the I was all encouraged to find that right there in Boston.

Amen time it just really is so encouraging and not just you know so you think of the geographical unity. I also think of historical unity.

When I was in college I read the confessions of St. Augustine. I was taken a Christian Classics course and I member reading eminence basically him sharing his testimony how he came to Jesus that here's this guy writing thousands, hundreds of years ago and he loves Jesus and he wants to honor the Lord. I remember just think so struck is like the Christian church didn't start in 1962 brothers and sisters have been walking with the Lord in seeking the Lord for years for millennia. It's just so cool to to know were united by faith in Jesus Christ, so we might be separated by all sorts of things by culture by certain traditions by geography by time was united by the gospel of Jesus.

When we have a lot of a lot that we that we share in common that we should celebrate as Christians, and that we should rally around so that we can get that message out to the rest of the world to the people who really really need to hear it. 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 core when you contact us. Please let us know how you been encouraged by this podcast and be sure to join us next time.

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