Are Churches Misinterpreting What the Bible Teaches About Homosexuality?

This is core Christianity, where 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 hello and welcome to another episode of corporate entity. Were we are answering the questions that you have about God in the Bible.

I'm with Prof. Michael Horton I am Pastor atrial Sanchez and it's always a joy to be able to sit down and and read the questions that we receive on this program listen to the phone calls that we get about the Bible you want to know God's word and they want to know how it applies to their lives in and that's one of the beautiful things about the Scriptures is that it's such as information that were taking in its making a smarter a lot of people when they think about Jesus is Lord and what it means to be a Christian and that they go back to that moment where they were told, you need to ask Jesus into your heart infect you think about a lot of the evangelism that happens today and it's so often geared towards eight ask Jesus into your heart we perceive some questions about that particular we have an email here from Carlos who says why is it not Christian to say, I accept Jesus as my personal savior. Dr. Horton explain this in a radio program but I would like a deeper understanding of this issue. Michael and some of the things, like I said in the things that we hear over and over in the church I accept Jesus as my personal savior. I asked Jesus into my heart.

Well, what, what's the problem with some of that language will first with asking Jesus into your heart and I remember I did that as a kid so many times to make sure he was really there.

Yeah, there's no passage anywhere in the Scriptures where we read that so-and-so asked Jesus into his heart.

We do read in acts 16 the Lord opened Lydia's heart to receive the things that were spoken by Paul, the Holy Spirit opens her heart to receive the gospel to receive Christ to embrace Christ, we are united to Christ, but it's not because in our heart somewhere is because we are united to him now that he's united we are united to him. He's united to our humanity in the incarnation, and where united to him through faith. That's really the language of Scripture believe on Jesus Christ embrace the gospel, the good news. Sometimes we kind of get these phrases that are actually taken from the Bible. I accept Jesus as my personal savior is one of those. But you know Carlos I don't recall the context I never want to say that it's wrong to say, I accept Jesus as my personal savior. Even that, though that's not a New Testament phrase. There are those who use it as a sort of magical talisman. They haven't repented. They reject Christ Lordship over their life. They don't belong to a local expression of his body.

They don't even show any interest in growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. But they say I accepted Jesus as my personal savior.

Back on November 3, 1998. Well, if Jesus is your Savior than is also your Lord and if these your Savior and Lord. Then he is the head of the body of which you are a part and one thing I do say a lot is that our relationship with Jesus is always personal but never private. You never have a private relationship with Jesus. You have a personal relationship with Jesus. But if you have a personal relationship with Jesus you share that relationship with his body, the church to be united to the head is simultaneously to be united to his members. The other parts of his body.

The really good news isn't that I accepted Jesus as my personal savior, but that he accepted me as his personal center you and John 1516 Jesus told his disciples. You didn't choose me I chose you and appointed you to bear fruit that would last night doesn't mean that we don't accept Jesus you have something similar in John one, where we reads to those who received him, he gave the right to become the children of God, accepting, and receiving very similar terms. The important thing here is that we accept him, because his father has first, as Paul puts it in Ephesians 16 made us accepted in Christ, his son, that's the really good news here. I think we place too much emphasis on what I've done with Jesus the New Testament places all the emphasis on what Jesus has done for us and what the Spirit has given us as a gift to united to Christ. That isn't to say that the call to faith isn't everywhere. Also in the New Testament.

Common belief. That's how are united to Christ. But even that faith is a gift is all his work from start to finish and he gets all the glory you know� Is this the human perspective and the divine perspective here. I remember as a brand-new believer when I first started walking with the Lord really thinking I'm so happy that I've discovered is that I've accepted Jesus that it felt to me like I had stumbled across the greatest news ever, until someone in my church and an older woman came to me and said you know it's on the atrial is what if it wasn't that you were looking in and sort of stumbled across this but what if God himself was pursuing you and you think about your life and that the people that God brings to you in the ways in which the Lord reveals himself to us and you realize, wow, God has been at work. It's like Paul says in Philippians you know that work out your salvation with fear and trembling, but it is God who is at work in you both to will and to do even the desire to turn to Christ, which we sense right like I'm accepting Jesus even that is my just said is a gift from the Lord. And we realize that, I think were just brought to our knees were humbled and we say, boy, this is all of grace.

It wasn't anything in me. He has sought me and he is found me, and there's no one who he has sought and found he will ever let go. Amen is critical. Now that we received marital hours in order to get your advise my pastor, as a homosexual and preaching that the Bible misinterpreted hey Jim, wow that's tough yeah that is tough. Well II think one to the question has the Bible been misinterpreted with regard to this question of homosexuality, whether or not it's base permissible. This is just something that the church is missed for the last 2000 years, and I've heard this before, even in the community right pastor. There are at least a couple of churches quote unquote that are led by men who are openly homosexual or bisexual, and that this is okay that the Bible is been misinterpreted and I've read some of the things that they've written and sought to interact with them a little bit but I just think that the Scriptures are so clear both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament when you read in places like Romans chapter 1 it is absolutely clear that same-sex X factor those those things are sinful but it's a part of our fallen humanity.

This is something that just natural and beautiful and sanctioned by God.

No, it's a part of our fallenness. It's a part of the brokenness that exists in our culture, and I think that there's a little bit you know it at one of the things it frustrates me.

Mike is as I've heard more and more in these days people who are in the church saying well that the church is just on this wrong for so long as there's an arrogance there because boy followers of Jesus have been humbly reading the Scriptures for 2000 years and interstate here.

Now we we really got this right and everybody else got it rye just think that that there's something not right about that and if you were teaching has not been taught by the church for all this time fact, the opposite, the opposite has been taught because it's so clear in Scripture I and unify what people will do Jim is Jos� Weltman. You know, now we know little bit more about the historical background. I think even that is twisted because think about the Greco-Roman world. Mike I know you you know this because a lot of the studies that you've done them and it's not like homosexuality was in a thing then it was a normal practice of the elites.

That's right. And so for Paul in places like Romans one to stand against it. The way that he does, and to say the things that he says would've been very good at what made you know even in that culture would been a difficult teaching for people. Even then, so it's not what is new no and he says think things like you know and such were some of you but even washed and justified and sanctified, there's a distinction between a person who has same-sex attraction and repents of it and fights against those temptations everybody name the sin. Now somebody is having to fight grievous sins. Even that is a Christian who is pressing forward to the high calling of person who says I am a homosexual, or I am greedy or I am a murderer, or I am a thief. This is my identity. This is who I am. This is how I define myself. Paul says they will never see the kingdom of God. They're not struggling Christians. They are embracing this as their lifestyle if they will never see the kingdom of God than they certainly are not going to lead others into it yeah yeah so I think both of us. Jim would encourage you to find a new church in and for two reasons. One, just in terms of this pastor's own qualifications.

I mean someone who's living in open sin on repentance and then not qualify for the ministry read first Timothy three read Titus one. There's a high bar. It's sobering. This is why James says in James chapter 3, verse one. I don't let many of you become teachers, knowing that working to receive a stricter judgment. So when somebody just comes out this am living like this doesn't matter. No big deal. What they do is they downplay the severity. The reality of sin and that spreads and then that's why it's so dangerous.

And that's what you have this high calling with the other thing is just just in terms of I think the biblical competency because to say everyone is misinterpreted. The Bible were getting it right. Not only does how likely this pastor is not living in a way that he should be living according to the qualifications that Paul gives us in first Timothy three and Titus one please also teaching others to do that and that it's okay and that it's no big deal and he's twisting the Scriptures in order to justify his sin. Like Mike said that's not a try. Crime that's not a church and so you need to find a place where the word of God is received as just that the word of God. Mike you you said it. We all have things that we have to put to death. We all have to lay down our lives.

That's when Jesus calls to follow him. But God gives us grace and mercy when he brings us to himself.

He helps us edit of me were to be perfect, but to just to throw in the towel and say no this is okay. I think the Bible teaches this. Now you can't be in that kind of a church.

It would be detrimental to your own spiritual life and spiritual health and so find another church brother euros and a core Christianity and were answering your questions about the faith were talking about really important things.

You know what what is it mean to be in the church. What is the right church look like this is so important for you for your soul for your hope for your eternal salvation of you being in a place where the word of God is faithful.

He taught that we want to do. We want to teach God's word help you understand it better. So if you have a question about the Scriptures give us a call number is 1-833-843-2673. That's 1833 the core you also email us at questions@corechristianity.com and we are so grateful for your partnership.

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We called inner core. Those of you who haven't, but you been listening and you found these truths, transforming and you not only enjoy it, but you want others to be transformed by it to. We would really invite you to come alongside us with your monthly gift of $25 or more. You can be part of that team, making it possible for us to share these core truths of the Christian faith. So head on over to core Christianity.com/inner core. To learn more or give us a call at 833. The core thanks Mike. Again, that numbers 833-843-2673.

Here's an email we got from Ryan. Jesus says that Peter is the rock of the church. I'm not sure what Jesus meant by that is, Peter and his writings more important than the other apostles.

Well, Matthew 1618, Jesus said, and I tell you, Peter. You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Now Jesus doing a word play here on Peter's name which is a form of rock and he's saying you know I tell you, your name is rock and on this rock I will build my church will watch the Rockies talking about Peter know his confession. Because what happens just prior to that is is Jesus says who do people say that I am well. Some say you're Elijah the prophet. Some say your Moses and John the Baptist. So, for Jesus says will. Who do you say that I am and Peter says you are the Christ, the son of the living God. That's the rock Jesus is talking about on that rock that confession that you just gave Peter on that rock I will build my church. That's the creed basically boiled down to one sentence. That is the creed on which I will found my church and build it.

Galatians 211 reminds us, but when Cephas that's Peter came to Antioch. Paul says I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned and so clearly you have one apostle opposing another apostle. Neither apostle being infallible only in their writings are there. The writings inspired and infallible, but clearly Peter was not infallible and he was not asserting his authority as the leader among the apostles he was recognizing a plurality of apostles, not just one but a group of apostles the whole 12 apostles were really the foundation of the church you didn't have one apostle being the foundation of the church. Paul said that the church is built on the foundation of the prophets and the apostles plural when you look at the Jerusalem Council in acts 15 you read several times there that the apostles and elders gathered together to make a determination about whether Gentiles coming into the church had to adopt certain Jewish practices, and they said no were all saved by grace.

There is no distinction between Jew and Gentile any longer and it was not Peter who made that decision. It was the whole assembly that made that decision and when they reach that agreement in the Holy Spirit.

They made a determination and sent that letter around all the churches to be observed. So if there were any place for Peter to sit on his chair and exercise a single authority over the whole church.

It would have been at that counsel and he simply didn't fit so encouraging for me to hear about this God who calls these apostles. In particular, could you think about guys like Peter and they are in Matthew 16 with him like he gets it right there.

Okay, you're the Christ. But how many other times in Peter's ministry. He stuck his foot in his mouth and you mentioned in Galatians were the apostle Paul actually has to rebuke Peter and yet these are the men that God used. To help get the gospel out in the early days of the church is really adding encouraging for us that God can use them. He can use us to absolutely and it's it really shows that the foundation that Christ set up in his church is a kind of checks and balances. Because were all sinners is not one man who rules and guides and leads the church pastors are all accountable to each other. Thanks Mike. Let's go to another question now. Got a question from our sitting master God's people know Karen. Actually, there is no promise in Scripture that believers will be protected from the common evils that go with living in a fallen, sinful world, the promise that we have again and again in Scripture is that God works all things together for the good of his people and that's our ultimate salvation, but not necessarily our health and happiness here and now we might contract a lethal disease just like anybody else. The difference is that we have a greater hope not of prolonging our life as children of the flesh, but of the resurrection of the dead at Christ's bodily return we have that hope. Think of the horrific massacre in the Charleston church in 2015 white supremacist Dylan roof killed nine believers in the middle of a Bible study. But Christians been killed for various reasons. Throughout history, then there's the stuff that we all go through believer and unbeliever alike.

Just because we live in a fallen world. You probably know people who've heard the frightening words from a doctor you have cancer, look, this is not as good as it gets. This present age is dominated by sin and death. But Jesus Christ has conquered as the beginning of the new creation look to Jesus as we read in Hebrews 2 we do not yet see everything in subjection to humanity the way God intended it with Adam, but we do see Christ raised and ascended and sitting at the right hand of the father so he's conquered sin and death. But that kingdom will not be finally and fully consummated until Jesus returns. As it turns out the protection and security that God promises us now is far greater than anything the Department of Homeland Security or insurance companies or our doctors can offer us regardless of what happens to us in this life, which is a brief shadow, a puff of air. We have the promise that this life is just the beginning. It's a mist that fades quickly, regardless how long the doctors can prolong our life. It's ultimately God who who decides we have a home with the triune God forever more in a joyful feast that never ends.

That's what we are promised as Christians. I'd like to read just a few verses in Romans five, beginning at verse one therefore, since we have been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand and we we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

Not only that, but we rejoice, even in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who is been given to us for while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly one will scarcely die for a righteous person, though perhaps for a good person one might dare to die. But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since therefore we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved from him from the wrath of God. That's what were ultimately saved from and we know that here now because were justified. He continues for if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his son, much more now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life more than this. We also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. I hope that really gives you comfort even though you can still cry out with us almost how long the Lord is in Psalm 18 one.

God is delaying Christ's return to make all things new. Until all of his chosen people from every nation, and language are brought into the safety of this kingdom aren't you glad that he's given a space for you to come to Christ until that last of his sheep is brought into his fold will be enduring this present evil age, but it's all for good purpose. We have that promise, that in Christ we will rule and reign on the earth forever without pain without suffering without death. Until then we suffer and hope you yeah let's go to another question. This is a question that we got via Facebook. I have a Christian friend who praise the Lord's prayer by reciting it.

She says that it helps her to pray when she doesn't know what to pray. Is this a good practice is it a dead ritual.

If we can.

Is it better to pray in our own words. Yeah, that's an interesting question and I'm sure a lot of other people are asking this.

First of all, Jesus prefaces the Lord's prayer with these words. And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your father knows what you need before you ask him. So pray then like this and then he gives the Lord's prayer.

Matthew six verses seven through 15. It's interesting.

On one hand, Jesus is saying don't pray like the Gentiles or just babble pray like this pray in a structured way in the actually gives us a prayer. Sometimes people were either written or memorized. Prayers can be empty rituals they can, but so too can empty babble become just meaningless. The key here is for us to allow formal prayers like this to serve as a trellis matrix that allows the vine of our prayer life to grow in a healthy direction.

Upward and that's what a trellis does the Lord's prayer is like a trellis for our prayers. You know sometimes.

For instance, I'll hear prayers that just completely miss, who were praying to. Why were praying.

So if I can learn how to pray properly. Pray truthfully by praying the Lord's prayer which he gave us when you pray, pray like this, then we have some baseline from which we can pray more spontaneous prayer.

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