How Do I Find God’s Perfect Will For My Life?

This is core Christianity were answering your questions about the Christian life Monday through Friday. Your hosts are author and seminary professor Dr. Michael Horton and Pastor atrial Sanchez call right now with your question. At 1833.

The core that's 1-833-843-2673 and now here's atrial Sanchez, welcome back. During this holy humanity and with Prof. Michael Horton and Pastor atrial Sanchez and were continuing our assertive series thinking through and talking about what Jesus has done for us, his life, his death, his resurrection across anything about the cross in his book the cross of Christ.

John Stott wrote the fact that across became the Christian symbol and that Christians stubbornly refused, in spite of the ridicule to discard in favor of something less offensive and have only one explanation means that the centrality of the cross originated in the mind of Jesus himself, you know my guy.

I don't think that most Christians today realize how scandalous the idea of the cross is do they know and that it's not something that happened to Jesus it's something that he embraced before the world was created via Peter talks about being foreknown from the foundation of the world. This identity, he came into the world under the shadow of the cross, knowing that that was his destiny as he taught and fed the 5000, and would take a break with his disciples to tell them as he got closer to Jerusalem, closer to holy week. You know I'm going to Jerusalem to die and then be raised on the third day, and I kept trying to tell no one else on this cross thing is a downer and you hear TV preachers and some is people on radio pastors and pulpits preaching everything but Christ's cross still talk about Jesus as this or that. Talk about Jesus's life coach or as a miracle worker or is you know somebody who can give you your best life now, but not the crucified Savior and bore our sins and I've always been just so struck by Paul's words and in first Corinthians were he talks about how he purposed in her nothing except Jesus Christ and him crucified you think about this man, Paul.

This theologian of theologians immediately knew the Old Testament so well get his experience with Jesus there on the road to Damascus. Here's a guy who knows some pretty awesome things around them of the mysteries of the faith, and yet is when I preach. I just I cannot get rid of everything else, and I pretend like I only know one thing Jesus and him crucified. And what an encouragement that is for us. For me, especially as a pastor and in thinking about preaching, which is for us as believers.

The centrality of the cross was what our first question now from Bob Bob all my questions regarding our salvation is given you and your justified by the service cross.

How can you celebration that would be saying the Jews do have the power distribution one celebration. Thank you Bob well eyes, I agree with your logic completely is Scripture promises that were justified. The moment we place our trust in Jesus Christ alone for our salvation.

Then there is no undoing of that once were declared righteous.

We can't be declared unrighteous once we are born again we can't become unborn again once were alive. We can't be dead.

We have passed. As Jesus says in John five. We passed from death to life.

In Philippians 16 Paul says that I am confident that he who began a good work and you will complete it to the day of Christ Jesus doesn't start something that he doesn't finish. He doesn't choose his people from all eternity. As Paul says in Romans 14 and redeem them and then justify them only to not sanctify and not glorify them as he says in Romans chapter 8, those whom he predestined he called those whom he called he justified those whom he justified he glorified what shall we say in response to this. If God is for us who can be against us who will bring any accusation against those whom God has chosen and goes on to say, for I'm convinced that neither life nor death, nor angels nor demons or anything in heaven or anything on earth or anything in the future or the past will ever be able to separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. That's pretty inclusive, not some of those he chose. He redeemed and some of those he redeemed.

He justified in some of those he justified, he glorified, but all of those he chose will end up saved in heaven.

What a wonderful confidence that we have two enter boldly into the holy of holies knowing that God is has bound himself to finish the job.

That's why Paul can say to Timothy, this is a trustworthy saying, even if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself, a man Bob thank you for that question. You know, we have an email hear from Annette and this is a heavy remember thinking about justification. But what about for our family members who don't yet know the Lord and we can be concerned with our own salvation and you know the importance of trusting in Christ and I love Mike is you are talking that you know that the assurance that we have.

If we've been justify the kinds get to finish the work in us. But how do we deal with our nonbelieving family members and the people we love.

Annette asked how can Christians go through life with the joy of salvation, knowing that they have loved ones with their spouses or children, grandchildren, parents who are not saved and are going to spend eternity in hell.

How can we reconcile that how can we go through life joyously as a believer knowing that we have loved ones that are not saved and are going to be in hell for all eternity. I myself have a hard time dealing with this knowing that I have family members that are not saved and will be going to hell and I just cannot come to terms with this Annette man. Boy do I feel your question here yeah and you're right Annette. It's a terrible burden which we should feel, and it should drive us to pray for our loved ones. I love the way I'm St. Augustine talks about his mother's prayers. In his book the confessions she longed to see her son come to know the Lord and she prayed over him for years and years with tears pleading with the Lord while he was engaged in nightlife and how energy is in prostitutes just kind it didn't look like there was any hope for him, and then God eventually answered her prayers, but I also talked to many believers who have prayed for loved ones with yet to turn to Christ, or who never did. Now we can have the joy of salvation because we are forgiven because we've been justified, but that doesn't mean that we won't feel the pain of seeing others around us reject Christ and you know who really understood this well. I think he writes about it is the apostle Paul was and what he said in Romans chapter 9 he said I'm speaking the truth in Christ.

I'm not lying, my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart for I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh, they are Israelites and to them belong adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law the worship the promises to them belong the patriarchs, and from their race.

According to the flesh is the Christ, who is God overall blessed forever.

Amen. But it is not as though the word of God has failed.

I think the answer to your question, and it is in this passage no one Paul has this unceasing grief for his kinsman, his brothers, those whom he loves those who are near to him why because they're outside of Christ. They don't know Jesus.

They have yet to experience the forgiveness of sins and justification.

And yet he knows that God isn't a failure that God is still in control, that God is sovereign and he continues to trust in God and I think that's the tension that we have to live with. As believers is we do have this grief and we should as believers longed to see the people around us come to know Christ and and that should drive us to our knees to pray and to be godly examples and to share the love of Christ with them because ultimately it is a work of God.

It is a work of the Holy Spirit and at the same time we know God you're not a failure.

Your word doesn't fail. You are sovereign.

I'm going to trust in you and so there's a Teddy is every purpose for which he sends it to the up that's right. And so I think that there's a tension there that we live with. As believers isn't there, Mike. Now we have and we don't know whom God has chosen as Paul goes on there to say in Romans nine it's not as if God's word is failed even throughout the history of God's dealings. He has retained the privilege of choosing whom he will save from the massive sinful humanity. We don't know who those people are. We know we are belong to that church. As Paul says the Lord knows those who are his. We don't we know those who profess to be his. But we don't know ultimately who will be saved and that means we have to go to the one who does to the one who can soften the hardest heart and if he can't put it this way. If God it Jesus is a gentleman as I heard growing up who will never interfere with our free will. If Jesus really is a gentleman why would you pray for the salvation of your loved one. You only pray to the Lord to change somebody's heart because you believe he can.

What a wonderful hope that we have only go to God in prayer, knowing that he can soften the hardest heart person right now says that he or she is an atheist or hates God doesn't want anything to do with the church, you have no idea whether whether they will turn to Christ next Thursday. Amen.

And I hope that that really encourages you to pray because you think about Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus, you know, when Jesus you know pulled him over and said hey can I have a few minutes to talk to you gentlemanly know he knocked them off the horse and and in a blinding light came Timmons. That's also why are you persecuting me while God is sovereign and we trust him and we put our hope in him. As we pray for those around us, our loved ones who still don't know him and I hope that that you're encouraged to pray for them. Knowing God is powerful that God is in control and that God loves you and them so you're listening to core Christianity and were answering the questions that you have about the fate if you want to follow up with that question or via your own question. Give us a call. The numbers 1-833-843-2673. That's 1833 the core.

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You can also get a hold that by calling us in the numbers 1-833-843-2673. What an email from Brad something that I think Mike you and I can both relate to listen to what he what he asks.

I really believe in striving to lead a holy life, but the more I strive, the more I realize I can't do what I want to do. I've heard people say that we need to rely on the Holy Spirit. Had we do this and how does our striving for holiness fit with our relying on the Holy Spirit.

Yeah well you're in a great place if you realize that you can't be saved by your holiness. First, you need a perfect holiness to withstand God's judgment, the righteousness that Christ alone possesses and gives to you as a free gift, through faith in him we read in first Corinthian's 130 that Christ is our holiness. Second, holiness is the fruit of this faith in Christ. Even this faith to believe in Christ is a gift of God. Ephesians 29. So holiness isn't something that you can muster up. You can achieve it by your own efforts. It's a gift of being united to Christ through faith. Those whom God justifies. He also sanctifies and will one day glorify. We are called to strive for greater knowledge of Christ and maturity in him. Clearly, you know, we were dead in sins we couldn't do anything to make us friends of God.

God saved us while we were still sinners. While we were dead. While we were completely unresponsive to him and his gospel rebelling against his truth, he saved us then and there in the middle of all of that but now we are free to cooperate for the first time in our life were free to respond to his commands were free now to obey the command that we find in Colossians 310.

For example, put off the old self and put on the new self that is created in Christ Jesus. But we can only do this. Paul says in Philippians 213 as the Holy Spirit works in us both to will and to do for his own good pleasure were called to not work for it but to work it out were called to not quench the Holy Spirit.

But bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit respond to the Holy Spirit's quickening called to do all sorts of things, but we can't do any of them, unless he is at work in us both to will and to do according to his good pleasure, and it brings us back to this point, you were sheep and sheep are stupid, we wander and the good Shepherd keeps bringing us back. Paul struggled in Romans seven he says, before we know the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin, for I do not understand my own actions.

For I do not do what I want but I do the very thing I hate the unbelievers don't know that struggle. They may struggle with addictions and weaknesses that make them lose their job or their family but they don't struggle as Paul does here with the fact that there are new creatures in Christ and yet still acting like the old creatures that they're not. So if you're frustrated with your progress and your maturity in the Christian life. Congratulations.

You know you're truly born again.

There's a war within. You need to fight but here's the. The main thing to bear in mind as you struggle to put to death the sinful deeds of the flesh. Remember that Christ has already won the victory you fight and fail, fight and fail, fight and fail, but keep coming back to Christ who is your holiness and by his spirit gives you holiness. He has saved you from the guilt and tyranny of sin and its from that secure rock that you can now fight the good fight and Mike on the ground level. Brad asked how do we do this in terms of what it looks like to rely on the Holy Spirit and that's one of those phrases that I've heard time and time again the church and to rely on the Holy Spirit. Sometimes I feel like we complicate these phrases. What does that letter to rely on the Holy Spirit. Every day is a Christian. Well, it means you can't separate the Holy Spirit from his word. So to rely on the Holy Spirit is to believe what he said he inspired the Old Testament and the New Testament. He is inspired both the commands that we find in Scripture and the promises that we find in Scripture to rely on the Holy Spirit is first of all to rely on the promises of God's word and from that secure footing to fight against sin and seek to obey God's commands so important.

Here's a question we got about Satan. I know there's a lot of questions surrounding spiritual warfare and who the devil is and how the devil works. Listen to this one.

This is from an anonymous email that we received.

What does Jesus mean in Luke 10 when he says that he saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Is he talking about a time before Adam and Eve were in the garden. Can you explain the fall of Satan and what that means for us today. Sure. Well first of all you what we have to realize here is Jesus is the one who has come to crush the serpent said promised in Genesis 315 and the demons come crawling out of the woodwork. All of the demonic activity all the work of Satan that has been sort of behind the scenes throughout history. Now just comes to a head and they literally come crawling out into the public to try to defeat Jesus at this very moment where he's about to crush the serpent's head. So now here's the thing. Christ by his victory has cast Satan out of heaven, but woe to the earth, he says, because the devil is come down to you. So now Satan can't prosecute us in the heavenly court room he can bring up any charges against us before God anymore. He's cast out of that courtroom Jesus has ascended to the right hand of the father so we only have a defense attorney, namely Jesus Christ at the right hand of the father in that heavenly courtroom, but it does mean that Satan prowls like a lion, seeking whom he may devour. He persecutes the church. He doesn't prosecute the church so he can really stir the world up against us, but he can no longer destroy us and a lot of times, and we think about the gospel we don't encoded Genesis were thinking about Matthew Mark Luke and John, Jesus's ministry. How is the gospel pictured their proclaimed there even if I say I'm I'm dying for the Super Bowl.

For some of the hold up a sign is that of John 316 Genesis 315 that would be funny. It would, but you're right, I mean this is the think the gospel was first given right immediately after the fall to Adam and Eve. Yes, there is a curse. Yes, I swore to you that if you violated this commandment, that you would surely die, and the whole human race with you. Yes, there is a curse upon your labor upon the ground upon the woman and her childbirth upon the serpent. But here's the thing I am going to send a Redeemer I'm going to send a Savior and the rest of the Bible from Genesis 315 on is an unfolding drama where even if Jesus is not doesn't appear in every episode. He is the central character of the whole play and that's why we why we say with Jesus himself. All Scripture is like rivers leading to him and we've gotta think of the Bible that way it's not a collection of Aesop's fables.

It's not a collection of stories, you know, can you be a leader like Joshua and how can you have the faith of Rahab, and so forth. Really, it's about Christ is about God and what he's doing throughout history to orchestrate things so that that promise he made Adam and Eve in Genesis 315 will finally be fulfilled in the fullness of time. I'm sure you'd agree with me and drill a great book for people to get here is a friend and colleague Dennis Johnson journeys with Jesus. Every path in the Bible leads us to Christ explaining how the whole Bible is like a real puzzle pieces with Jesus as the box top. That's right you're listening to core Christianity with Dr. Michael Horton, author and seminary professor give him a call with your question about the Bible at 1-833-843-2673 units 1833. The court also email us at questions@corechristianity.com and before we finish up Mike. I think we have time for one more question is a call right through Daniel from Houston. I was wondering how should I go about finding God's perfect will for my life. I know that I could do a lot of things in life, but I central Florida settle for something less than God for any advice you have on God's will for your life is simple. He wants you to trust in Christ and pursue the love and good works that result from a heart gripped by the gospel in my own experience in Israel.

I think this is true of yours as well. This was a very anxiety producing teaching. I not only had to follow God's written word. What he's commanded in Scripture. I also to figure out what his perfect will for my life was in other words, his secret plan, you know, are you living in the perfect will of the Lord so there were second-class Christians who hadn't discerned this perfect will. And then first class Christians who have MI living in God's perfect will know Scripture teaches that God's perfect will is his law as we find his commands in Scripture and is saving will is found in his gospel. Also in Scripture Mike what you think that this teaching comes from this idea of a perfect will for my life. I think rests on a misunderstanding of Romans 12 to do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

So, some interpret Paul be saying you have to discern God's perfect or secret will, which is different from his revealed will in Scripture. But Paul says the very opposite. He says that we are to be transformed by the renewing of our mind by Scripture so that we may discern God's good acceptable and perfect will towards God's revealed will is his perfect will.

His commands are perfect.

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