How Did We Get So Many Different Cultures from Adam and Eve?

After years of walking with Jesus you still wonder, am I really even saved.

That is one of the questions will be answering on today's edition of core Christianity hi Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Christian life every day. You can call us with your question 833 the core that's 833-843-2673. You can also email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com before we start today.

Israel, I have to ask you are your kids still running around the house acting like hobbits yet and I'm the troll. So they're continually trying to take me down and sometimes they get the better of me because he knows all about the cheap shots for them, especially my oldest he go straight to the knees so that don't let your kids watch Lord of the rings. If you don't want. You know your house to turn into middle earth efforts happened to I love it. Let's get to our first question in this one came in from Kim clarify what the well of God finally got a lot of confusion about well-dressed competent thank hey Tim, thank you for that question will Providence has to do with how God upholds and sustains the creation he made no God didn't just make the world and then walk away and leave everything to chance. He's active by his providence in the world today. Hebrews chapter 1 verse three.

Let me just read you what that passage says Jesus is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power, and then he goes on to say, after making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, and this is such a comforting dock in the doctrine of God's providence. You think of what Jesus says in the Gospels, not one sparrow falls to the ground apart from the will of your father, God is an absolute control. He knows everything he's over everything he knows and number of hairs that are on your head that when we think about God's will, God's will is accomplished through the unfolding of his divine providence, we typically think of God's will in two ways. There is God's precept of will. We think of a precept like a commandment.

And there's God's to creative will the will of God's decree God's precept of will has to do with what God has revealed to us in his word. A simple example would be something like God's law. God's law tells us not to steal or murder God is against those kinds of things that we know this because he told us in his law, Paul when he writes the Thessalonians is this is the will of God for you, your sanctification that you abstain from sexual immorality of God's decree of will is different so we know God's precept of will is what he reveals to us in his word that the things that God calls us to as his people to think that God calls the world to God's decree of will isn't known to us in the same way. It's sometimes been called God's secret will the verse that you go to to think about this is Deuteronomy chapter 29 verse 29 says the secret things belong to the Lord our God with the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law, the sort of distinction there between the revelation of God's word and law and his secret will. So you're referring to the fact that whatever comes to pass in this world has somehow mysteriously been foreordained by God that might sound a little unsettling to you, but the main question you have to ask is because the Bible teach this over and over again. That's we want to say is, does the Bible teach. This will Ephesians chapter 1 verse 11 in him.

Jesus, we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will now so what if you know maybe if they can well these doctrines show us that God is on the throne still is stuff happens all around us experiences that we have of suffering of pain. Even the experiences in our own lives aren't outside of God's power. That may not give us these doctors but not with the answers to why certain things happening. The question we oftentimes ask in the midst of our suffering that they reveal to us that God is bigger than we are and that somehow he is orchestrated all things after the counsel of his will so we can hope in him and trust in him. So I think these are really, really important doctrines and their they're related as is you say Kim, but there are important because they show us that God is the Lord he's on his throne and that is comforting for us in the midst of difficult times.

Great response, Israel, and I'm sure some listeners may wonder what about free will. What about the fallen world that we live in is it that sometimes God allows things to happen, rather than actually willing them to happen, he will. One of the things that we have to say is you we think about God's sovereignty in Providence.

All those things with the church.

Christians have always affirmed, is that God is not the author of evil.

That's us for work were the ones who said it's not God. And so we think about God's will and his decree.

In particular, there are some things that God just permits. Now, we don't understand why he's permitted them all the time. We do know that he's purposed to conquer the evil that he's allowed in his son Jesus Christ, and some glad that you you asked that follow-up because it's important for us to understand God is not the author of evil writing God is never Cindy can't be tempted with sin. James tells us, we said we break God's law and God has permitted those sins to take place. But he is not the author of those sins. So that's an important distinction that that we have to make the Christians have made throughout the centuries you're listening to core Christianity and we would love to get your question you can call us anytime at 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also post your question on our Instagram page and that's exactly what Andy did and it really Eddie has this question. Does it matter what Bible translation you read. I think that first you want to distinguish between a translation and a paraphrase, you know, there are paraphrases of the Scriptures that I think might have some devotional purpose, but I would say would it comes to studying the Bible and I think daily Bible reading it. It's better not to use those.

Every translation is a little bit different. You know, each translation has its own strength and and sometimes even certain weaknesses summer to be more sort of wooden and stick closer to the Greek and Hebrew original languages.

I think that the new American Standard Bible.

The NASB is like this. The ESV is a decent balance unit seeks, in my opinion to be faithful to the original languages while maintaining readability is what we use in our church. Many people also like the NIV translation of the Bible. I started reading when I first picked up a Bible in high school. The new King James version of the Bible and a lot of the pastors that I listened to at that time, you know, they preached out of the old King James version of the Bible for whatever reasons. A lot of the descriptors that I still have memorized to this day are from either the old King James or the new King James version of the Bible. I can still remember those translations. The most important thing I think you have to do it is just as read it in a be committed to opening up the Scriptures and seeking to understand. Here's the thing. The Bible is not a magic book and I sometimes think that people feel like if I just read the words on the text. Something magical was happening and and I'm doing this. Good work on becoming more holy because it know we have to actually understand the Scriptures, we have to ask questions dig deeper without the as you read the Scriptures seek to understand the scriptures and pray I remember one of the best pieces of advice that I got from an older brother in the Lord when I first became a Christian and as he said every time you open up the Bible, you should ask God for help to help you to understand it. We call this illumination is kind of a fancy word but it's just the idea that look even as we open up the Scriptures we still need the Holy Spirit's help I need the Holy Spirit to help me to understand what God is revealed in his word and the last thing I'll say is as you're putting the sort of pieces together when you're reading the Scriptures in whatever translation you choose to use. Make sure you know the box top is what I'm talking about you when you get a puzzle yet all these pieces and you're trying to put the puzzle piece together but it would be really hard if you didn't have the box top right where you could see what the actual image is a me to be probably impossible will, as were putting together the pieces of scriptural reading to the Scriptures. It's really get to know the box top.

What is the Scripture all about it's all about Jesus. It's all about how God is accomplished. Redemption in his son Jesus Christ.

Jesus can say this even any speaking to the religious leaders in John chapter 5, a passage I often reference on this program.

He says to them you you search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify of me. Moses wrote about me. Jesus said, we have to understand that Jesus is the center of Scripture and with that box top were able to put together the pieces. What a beautiful response federal, by the way, we have some great resources on our website at core, Christianity.com to learn more about how to read the Bible how to interpret the Bible understand it and apply it to your life. So check that out at core, Christianity.com.

Let's go to our next call. My name is Amber from Springfield, Missouri my questionnaires. Every day I wake up wondering if I'm saved, and it doesn't matter how much I pray how much I try not to do the things that I've asked for forgiveness for I just wake up with this monkey on my back, if you will dead. I'm not saved and every day for eight years I've gone through this auditing timeline wanting to be over be done at life and just wondering what it is that I should do if I am asking for forgiveness and making the same mistake again and again that maybe I'm not truly repenting. I feel like I am so sensitive to every little sin that I commit that all day long. I'm constantly just begging for forgiveness and just doing extremely depressed. Thank you's Amber, let me pray for you and then answer your question gracious heavenly father. I lifted Amber up to you right now and I pray Lord that you would cause her to see Jesus in all his glory. His goodness is sacrificial life and death for her salvation, Lord, that she would see the love that you have for her in the gospel and that she would be able to rest in that love the Lord with assurance knowing God, your goodness, oh Lord, would you fill her with faith.

Would you comfort her, would you encourage her right now, Lord, through your gospel.

I pray in Jesus name, amen Amber. What if I told you that Jesus Christ loves you more than you could ever imagine. And that his love for you is not dependent on how well you've obeyed him today or over the last eight years.

You know before we ever even tried to please Jesus Amber Jesus gave himself for us. Think of what Paul said in Romans chapter 5 verses six and following. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the on godly for one will scarcely die for a righteous person, though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die. But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us that when we look at our track records. It's sometimes hard to believe that Jesus could love us is in it. We don't understand why he'd save us, or how we could be saved before making the same mistake over and over again, but Amber, the same Paul who wrote Romans five, six, and following, talking about how God loved us while we were sinners wrote this just a few chapters later in Romans chapter 7 he said I don't understand my own actions.

I do not do what I want but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want. I agree with the law that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin that dwells within me, for I know that nothing good dwells in me that is in my flesh, for I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out for I do not do the good that I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing and then he goes on to say, wretched man that I am who will deliver me from this body of death thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord, so that I myself serve the law of God with my mind with my flesh I serve the law of sin is that battle.

Sound familiar to you. Amber it should be. It's the battle that every Christian wages. We recognize that that apart from Jesus we are wretched O wretched man that I am who will deliver me from this body of death from my sins thank you God for Jesus been reading a book on my Kindle night about the life and faith of Fred Rogers Fino Mr. Rogers from Mr. Rogers neighborhood the show.

Many of us watched growing up. He was known worldwide for his gentleness in acts of charity.

But you know his last words were before he died.

Amber, he looked at his wife and he asked her.

Do you think I'm a sheep he was referring to the sheep and goat judgment of Matthew 25, he was afraid that maybe he had not done enough. Maybe he was one of the goats. Let me tell you something, no matter who you are and no matter what you've done.

How faithful you've been, or you think you've been to Jesus. When you look within. You will always question why because even as you grow in grace. The Holy Spirit is going to reveal to you new areas of your life that need renovation. As we grow as believers, we actually have an increased awareness of our sins and sometimes that makes us wonder, am I even a sheep.

So what we do.

We look to the shepherd.

Jesus every morning when you wake up and you ask yourself, am I really saved look to Christ crucified by faith and gaze upon your salvation.

Amber and when you failed even if it's a sin you've promised you'd never do again. But somehow you found yourself there. Don't wallow in unbelief but lift your eyes and faith again to Jesus and confess and no on the basis of God's word that he forgives you.

Jesus said in John six that the one who comes to me will never cast out. He doesn't cast you out when you go to him in repentance and faith Amber and you can rest in that and rest not in your own goodness your own righteousness. But in the righteousness of Jesus Christ for you Pedro, thank you so much for those beautiful words of reassurance for Amber and I pray that Amber I pray that you heard those words about how much God loves you and that you are forgiven and it's not about what you do, but it's about what he has done for you on your behalf and you know Amber is not alone. I know that there are so many Christians who have that very same question who wondering I keep struggling with the same thing and I and I confess it over and over again.

We have to look outside of ourselves to Jesus to receive comfort and let me just say, practically speaking as well. Want to add this for Amber and for you, listening, I'm it so important that you are in a good church where you are hearing that reassuring word of the gospel every single week and where there are other people there who can encourage you and and hold you accountable for. I found just practically speaking is one thing to confess our sins to the Lord and that's really all we need to do, but there's something stealing and encouraging about being able to go to a trustworthy brother or sister, and to say I knew confess something to you and I need some encouragement. I need to be reminded of the truth of the gospel from someone outside of me because sometimes it's hard for us to believe that for ourselves.

You know, we question what would we think about our own lives receive the grace of God through your brother or sister thank you so much for that. A drill this is core Christianity. The radio program where we answer your questions about the Christian life every day. You can learn more by going to our website@corechristianity.com. By the way, there's a great group of folks that support this program on a regular basis. We are listener supported. We couldn't do without you, and that group of folks is called the inner core and it really would love to invite our regular listeners who are part of that group to join today and if this program has been a blessing to you fits help. Do you see Jesus more clearly understand his word, his gospel. All I want to invite you, would you consider supporting us in and joining the inner core. You know you're going to be helping us continue to spread the message of of the Christian faith core Christianity the cardinal truths that we all hold so dearly. It is so important for us to get this message out because sadly I mean there's a lot of research that's come out recently about the Christian church the evangelical church and we forgotten a lot of these core doctrines, so we really want to help people understand these truths. Would you consider joining the inner core with the monthly donation of $25 or more.

You can be a part of that group are to be impacting lives, the lives of people you don't even know throughout this outreach every month will send you updates to keep you informed on how were reaching the lost. How you can best pray for us that so important. Please do pray for us as well and throughout the year, you can receive access to free and discounted resources that we create because your monthly donation helps us to underwrite them. So one again, thank you to those of you who have joined the inner core and please if if you're encouraged by this program. Would you consider being a part of that group as well website again is core Christianity.com. We have an email question that came in a drill, this one from Leanne and she says how did so many cultures and people come from Adam and Eve, while the first scripture I think of is acts 1726, where Paul is preaching the Areopagus, and he says this he says that God made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place in my sense, Leanne, is that over time these cultures formed and probably a key event in the formation of these cultures was the event defined way back in Genesis Genesis chapter 11.

The Tower of Babel. You remember the story man tried to ascend to God and God confused the languages of the people and they were dispersed throughout the whole world, and over time these dispersed groups developed in unique ways shaping their own traditions and cultures which I'm grateful for. By the way, because I love food is silly, but I just love the diversity that we have met comes to us really is a gift from God. He's bringing them into the kingdom you get that beautiful picture in the book of Revelation of every tribe and tongue and nation gathered before the throne of God and of the Lamb praising him. Thank you Leanne for your question. Thanks Leanne while Luke went to our website at core, Christianity.com and recorded a question for us and here's what he had said using the Psalms a lot more to inspire my own prayers, which is really wonderful but I keep running into these moments in the Psalms where the psalmist will appeal to his own innocence so that God will listen to him. So my question is, is the psalmist actually innocent and if so, I find it hard to echo this prayer because I know many other passages in the Bible that will describe how deep sin goes in the heart and my supposed to have the kind of confidence in my own innocence like David had down my supposed see this prayer is a maybe is a prayer of Christ, who is actually innocent and if so how does this inform my own prayers. Thank you for that question.

And what a what a great thing to do. I love that you're using the Psalms to do. Pray and to help you learn how to practically we should all use the Psalms in this way as well and is a great question is, is that, especially in light of the fact that elsewhere in the Psalms were told very clearly that there is no one who is innocent. Psalm hundred and 30 verse three if you will, Lord, should mark iniquities, old Lord, who could stand or Psalm 143 verse to enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you, the look I think there are a few ways to take this as it applies directly to David and help how we might be able to learn how to pray through the snow from the perspective of God's covenant in the Old Testament. David could be speaking as one who had at least in that instance where he's writing in Psalm 17 a clear conscience about how he had conducted himself. We don't know a lot of the background of Psalm 17, but we know that people have probably ganged up on David and were accusing him falsely see this especially in verses eight through 10 David is saying in this instance I have a clear conscience. You know what, as believers today. I think there is an application were called to live in a way whereby we have a clear conscience for how we conduct ourselves. Paul told Felix and asked 24 verse 16. I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man is possible to have indwelling sin, and in the general sense have a clear conscience about the way we conduct ourselves in some particular situation, but it doesn't mean though that David is perfect or sinless or blameless before God in the sense that maybe we might think. Especially because as I said effect in places like Psalm 143 verse two that no one living before God is righteous, so there's no contradiction that you also mention I think you're right on with this, but the words of the psalmist here really do point us to Jesus. Don't they mean and that's one of the things that we really need to understand as were reading all of Scripture and S were reading the Psalms that they point us to Jesus in two ways. First, Jesus really is the only truly innocent one. He lived a perfect life for us is the only one who can really have that but but fully clear conscience in terms of how is conducted himself in every single instance he was perfectly obedient that I also think that the psalmist has the hope of seeing Jesus. David says this we look at verse 15 of Psalm 17 he says.

As for me I will be satisfied when I awaken your like this when I see your face in righteousness. That's the hope you had a mess and hope we have faith in Jesus.

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