Matt Slick Live (Guest Host Luke Wayne)

The following program is recorded content created by the Truth Network, it's Matt slick.

Why is the founder and resident apologetics research management.online@carman.org when you have questions about Bible doctrines turned to Max why Lance is taking calls in responding to your questions at 877072276 is Matt slick good afternoon everybody. Welcome to Matt slick live. I am Luke Wayne filling in for Matt today who had to be a memorial service.

So be in prayer for him and the family, but he is serving there today and meanwhile I will be here with you guys take your call, answer your question so don't send at 877-207-2276. For those of you who are new to the show we are a Christian apologetics program.

Apologetics is the field in theology concerns itself with the defense of the Christian faith.

So we attempt to offer a reasoned response to objections of the Christian faith to dive into difficult Bible passages to analyze cults and false religions you questions about any of those things are some other relevant biblical topic. By all means Collison again at 877-207-2276 before we go to the phones. If you guys could also be praying Matt Nye this morning were meeting with some of the missionaries over in Africa who partner with Carmen and spreading the gospel and training believers strengthening churches over in Africa and were discussing, particularly in our brother in Malawi. There is been some serious floods there villages whose homes, church buildings destroyed washed away lives have been lost livelihoods destroyed people who are currently living in tents and camps and just be in prayer for the people of Malawi are brothers and sisters in Christ and their friends and neighbors and community be in prayer for Malawi right now. We certainly are and pray that you do would be as well.

During those conversations. We also, as is often the case. Talking to her missionaries in Nigeria and other places to get onto the subject of Islam and what are the crucial differences between Islam and Christianity.

As Christians in Africa Africa and other places of muscle dominant world have to wrestle with those things and figure out the best way to share the gospel with Muslim neighbors and deal with with Islamic objections to the Christian faith, and so we've been discussing those things and one of the crucial points that I think every Christian anywhere in the world should know so that you are ready to have a focused conversation if there's just one thing you're going to get the chance to talk about. There's a handful of things that you would want to make that point had one of those crucial crucial differences. At the very heart of what makes Christianity true and Islam falls is the cross of Christ in the Quran and syrup for verse 157 and eight it says that the screen went down there. Hold on. Just like in it for the day said we killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the apostle local law, but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but it was made to appear to them so and those who differ therein are full of doubts and no certain knowledge but only conjecture to follow for all the surety they killed him not day.

Alana raised him up unto himself and the laws exalted in power and watch but again that's in the Quran 04 157 158 denies not only that Jesus rose from the dead that Jesus died for our sins.

Indeed, that he died at all on the cross instead that he was caught up into heaven, and it was made to appear that he died on the cross.

This of course undermines the entire gospel of Muslim cannot believe this and still accept Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, and that he rose again. According to the Scriptures as the apostle Paul defines the gospel in first Corinthians chapter 50 and so what is a Christian to say in response will of course we turn first and foremost to the Scriptures, we show how all of the first century documents the books of the New Testament. All the firm the crucifixion, the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross and his subsequent resurrection that he did that for our sins that this is the good news and some of the look of the claim of the New Testament books are some of them not Scriptures or that they've been corrected but we begin by letting the word of God speak turn there and show the consistent message that these are not only the word of God that these are the first century documents. The eyewitnesses who knew these things beyond that we could show beyond having 27 unified first century documents more than we have on much anyone from the first century, but all tell us from all of these ancient writers that Jesus didn't die on the cross. We have others other ancient sources, the Jewish non-Christian historian Josephus testified Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate, as does the Roman historian Tacitus, a pagan who had no interest in Israel order God but still records this truth. We have early Christian writers outside the New Testament such as Ignatius in the epistle variance chapter 1, which specifies plainly that Jesus was crucified nailed to a cross under Pontius Pilate. Clement of Rome. In chapter 7 of his letter does the same. So we had historically it is undeniable that Jesus died on the cross is only a few of even more sources we can start. What's more muffled claim to believe that the Old Testament prophets were genuine cross and so when we go and look not only did Jesus die on the cross. But God said through his prophets that he would die on the cross.

Isaiah 53 Is My Favorite Pl. to demonstrate this. Surely our our grief that he himself bore and/or sorrows. He carried yet we ourselves esteem him stricken, smitten of God afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities.

The chastening of our well-being fell on him and by his wounds we are healed or goes on to explain and later in the chapter verse eight through 10th. By oppression and judgment he was taken away.

And as for him to his generation who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people to whom the stroke was due. The people should've died. He died instead his grave was assigned with wicked men, yet he was with the rich man in his death because he had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in his mouth but the Lord was pleased to crush him, putting him to grief if he would render himself a guilt offering dying for our sins. This is what the prophet said would happen what God said would happen through his prophets in Isaiah 5312 says therefore I will allot him a portion with the great old people divide booty with the spoil, because he poured himself out to – and was numbered with the transgressors. You, the transgressors, yet he himself bore the sin of many, and interceded for the transgressors. What did Jesus do. He died he died for sin and afterward received an inheritance implying resurrection. Death, burial and resurrection, all in the prophets before it happened. This was God's plan. So not only is it historically undeniable to prophetically on the dial. Beyond that, Jesus himself said that he would die Mark 831 and he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and beach world, and after three days rise again for Mark 931 for he was teaching his disciples and telling them the Son of Man is to be delivered into the hands of men and they will kill him and when he is been killed. He will rise three days later I could go on and on.

Example after example, Jesus prophesied his own death. So where does that put Islam.

Islam claims while they deny Jesus as the son of God, for denying he is divine he did they deny his death and resurrection they claim is true, cross while he prophesied repeatedly in every way possible.

Over and over again that he would die on the cross be crucified and rise again. Did he really mean crucifixion yet.

Matthew 26 one through two. When Jesus had finished all these words he said to his disciples. You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man is to be handed over for crucifixion. Jesus repeated testimony was that he would die and rise again. If that did not happen. Jesus is with Jesus would've been a false prophet, in which case Islam would be false because Islam says that Jesus is a trooper so Islam puts itself in this impossible position.

If Jesus was crucified. The Quran is wrong and therefore Islam is false. But if Jesus was not crucified.

Then Jesus is a false prophet and therefore Islam is false. So whether Jesus was crucified or not crucified. Islam is false, but the only reason that anyone would have to doubt that Jesus was crucified was because they're putting their trust in the caucus. Beyond that all historical evidence prophetic evidence the evidence from Jesus himself from Scripture from history. Everything tells us Jesus died for our sins and conquered sin and death by rising again and so this is something you can take to your Muslim friends and neighbors share with them and call on them to repent of idolatry and turn to the true and living God.

Trust in the true Jesus and his sacrifice.

The only redemption from sin that has ever been available to call on. The only name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

Jesus and so as Islam's presence continues to rise even here in the United States and the West. Christians should not meet that with fear, but instead is an opportunity to share the gospel to reach this mission field with the message of Jesus's death and resurrection for his people. The gospel of grace alone through faith alone in the perfect sacrifice of Christ alone is Alyssa something again that we are talking about with visionaries and in Africa to help train Christians to share their faith with the Muslim friends and neighbors.

There I hope you'll do the same here if you want to know more about these things go to Karma.org. See ARM.org and die then we have a large number of articles on this and many other things you could share with your Muslim friends and neighbors to share the gospel. Okay, let's said let's go to the phones look like we've got windshields from North Carolina this like why call 77207276 is Matt slick welcome back to the show.

This is not Matt slick. This is Luke Wayne again filling in for Matt had to be out on ministry need today be in prayer for him, but in the meantime I'll be here taking your calls at 877-207-2276. So if you have any calls on Christian apologetics on our understanding the Scriptures will interpretation, hermeneutics, church history or Colton false religions call in with your questions.

We would love to talk. Speaking of which, we are going back to the phones now with Winfield from North Carolina and let's see let's see we got a lot of stuff going on here of meetings last week and asked before asking again if you be so kind as to consider pricing for the missionaries we have in Africa they would really appreciate it if you would. They definitely need that that prayer and its value that you will find ways let you know you know we have for open lines give a call 877072276 and the let's see let's see some hundred 90, the 90 day ban from YouTube on my car videos I think of the second infraction is a magical list of radio we got in a few Skype guys helping me. Okay, everybody, everybody, we are back now with a few technical difficulties with our lines today so let me see if Winfield is still on with those Winfield are you there yet here you are okay. I apologize for all of thank you for sticking with what your question Winfield file I throw in my younger long time ago, but I would like for go very, very, very strict very much active and that baptism needed to be. What will, but still periodically because of the teaching I want, I'll read scriptures such as bike woman great and I know scriptures don't bother me today. I read through them because it seems like that like what you not know that all about blood been baptized right you have been baptized that.

So if you haven't back not been baptized out a house that you guys how.com will first of all just from a standpoint of logic to say that those who have been baptized into Christ have been baptized into his does not exclude salvation from those who is not been baptized.

It doesn't say only those who have been baptized, participate in the death of Christ in any way or anything like that. That's not the kind of statement being made here even just on a straightforward reading without context. So it is talking about the meaning of baptism, but it's by no means means stating baptism. It is necessary for salvation, but so let's look at what it is saying. So it says what shall we say then, beginning at verse one.

Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase may it never be.

How shall we who died to sin still live it live and it or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into his death.

Therefore, we have been buried with him in baptism so that Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the father so that we too might walk in newness of life.

For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, certainly we shall be in the likeness of his resurrection. Knowing this, that our old self was crucified with him in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to their for he who has died is freed from sin, and so it is looking to the image of our baptism because of what that baptism represents what it means that when we are baptized into Christ. We are identifying with his death and his resurrection and in so doing we ought we are making a statement about who we are in Christ and someone is saying I have died with Christ is not going to say I will live sent but that is it is a pulse putting out as it's ludicrous to make the statement in baptism that I am dead in Christ in my life is now is his plan would write elsewhere I am crucified with Christ. Therefore, it is not a put Christ to live his life. I live in the body I live by faith in the one who gave himself for me. When we look at Paul's language, which by the way, they're not talking about baptism and so here baptism is this public statement. We have made of who we are in Christ and as such, if I'm saying I have died with Christ. It is absurd for me to say I will live slaves to sin what Christ has done for us is his death and resurrection, not me going into water that redeems and saves me. I agree with what I read what you don't want to bother good I read and maybe I have been baptized with the court about that. But if you have a baptized and having about where reading it will look at that.

If you haven't been baptized, have you been baptized into his death will know could you have been baptized, but that doesn't mean that you're not saved by his death okay gotcha okay so it's so it is certainly looking to baptism which let's face it in the first century context as you read through the New Testament in that first generation of people are coming to Christ to the preaching of the gospel, adventure, and then being baptized or being baptized as an immediate response to the reception of the gospel and so there isn't an intimate personal connection to the memory of when I was baptized and why I was baptized, especially for those first century believers, and so when we we look at a passage like this. We certainly see a connection between someone's faith in the death risk resurrection of Jesus and the expression of that in baptism, and so that when I'm baptized baptized into Christ on being baptized into his sacrificial death absolutely and so mean baptized into his death doesn't mean you workplace is you gotta talk more about that right after the break. They would be Winfield's mats like why call 77207276.

Here is Matt slick welcome back to the show this is Luke Wayne filling in for Matt slick. But give us a call here at 877-207-2276 want to take your calls and answer your questions here today on Scripture doctrine Christian apologetics difficult challenges and answers to the faith or clear questions about Colson cults and false religion so please call on in. We'd love to hear from you guys.

Now before we went to the break I was talking with Winfield from North Carolina about the subject of baptism and whether Romans 64 teaches us that baptism is saying that there that baptism is necessary for salvation. Winfield you still with me. Yeah, I'm here okay so just to summarize for people who might just be joined in the joint of the show.

So what Winfield and I were talking about. So the verse says therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the father, so we too might walk in newness of life. In verse three before says or do you not know that all who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into his death, and so Winfield funds. If I'm representing you correctly, you know what concerns you. It raises general some alarms in your mind when you get this passage is that, does that mean baptized into his death instead of synonym for salvation and is that saying that anyone who is not yet been baptized does not have the benefits of Christ's death that correct exactly. So yeah okay okay so again, what were you looking at here to be baptized into Christ to be baptized into his death for us to assume baptized into Christ means you don't have the benefits of Christ until you been baptized or baptized into his death means you don't have that's bringing an assumption on assumed meaning that the text doesn't give us the text uses those phrases baptized into Christ and baptized into his desk and if we take those and interpret baptized into 10 been saved by the insurer.

This verse would give us some problems that but Paul's given us clear indication that that isn't what he's talking about because even earlier in Romans. He's walked out for the chapters leading up to this that we are that we are saved, not we are justified by faith justified our by grace through faith, so as Romans 328 to 30 says for we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law or is God the God of the Jews only is he not the God of Gentiles also yes the Gentiles also, since God is one God is one who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through thick and so we see the argument when we started chapter 1 and work her way through chapter 1 proves all the way through all the way through the beginning of chapter 3 proves that everyone is equally guilty under that incident, whether Jew or Gentile. Would he ever knew the Lord did know the law, circumcised or uncircumcised were equally guilty, instant and then he walks out the rest of tree three on two, four and five. This truth that we are justified by grace alone through faith alone, not by works or rites or rituals or lost and so for us to reach chapter 6 and to say that when he points to baptism. He's pointing it as a law that must be filled to be saved would undermine literally everything he set up and to this point that if we just let it speak for itself and look at what Scripture treats baptism as and so we see that it is the outward expression of an inward reality that's already occurred. You know when chapter 10 with Peter's preaching to Cornelius and the people believe his gospel and God fills them with the Holy Spirit, already without baptism. Peter recognizes that that's a sign that God has already accepted the granted them repentance and faith unto eternal life, and then said after that and can refuse water. These would be baptized.

He's recognizing that baptism is an outward expression that follows the salvation that has already occurred and we see that consistently throughout, through the way that Paul communicates the gospel and all of his letters, even through Jesus. When people ask what what what work must I do life and he says this is the work that you believe God loves the world. In this way that he sent his one and only son, that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life, not the ones that believe going to be baptized, but all who believe in him. Whoever believes will have eternal life, and of course this is illustrated in the middle of the most popular example that people turn to when you see the man who was executed next to Jesus who said to who expressed his faith in Jesus and that he would come into his kingdom. He expressed his trust in Jesus as the Messiah and the son of God and what did Jesus say to that man did not get off the cross and go get baptized this day. You will be with me in paradise. And so we do see the consistent teaching of the New Testament is that baptism is important, every believer should get baptized but it's not because you need to do that in addition to Christ to save yourself, but it is baptism is an expression of our identification with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and as such, if I am in his death. If I am in his resurrected life. As Paul argues here… It would be inconsistent, foolish to live as if I'm still a slave to sin for a free man whose chains of been knocked off to stay out there working his old Masters field under his masters with not go and live out his freedom that he's been given would be ludicrous expense to periodically my mark because of what I understand. Chapter 6 is chapter 5 of Romans. You have to read chapter on the relationship of chapter 1 yeah about your cucumber through quiet at the moment. Amina okay yes yes yes… Sorry.

Please continue.

I think that I think when you said you know you have to read chapter 6 in the light of chapter 5 of chapter 51. Therefore, been justified by faith… Help but periodically THE recesses of my mind because I complete. I completely understand callback callback anytime would love to chat with you moron on any of those other front passages you hit that stir this back up and and were always here to chat with you will initiate the weekend. Barbara you to you to okay that was Winfield in North Carolina will be going back in just a moment but first if you want to get in line and have your questions answered: Senate 877-207-2276 let's go back to the lines with marketing in Virginia.

Mark you are on the air. We lost market. Okay, well then we are going to Carl in South Carolina, Carl, you are on the air. I look at the question in regards to the children of Israel concerning back girl all over world. People who are are you okay I'm sorry your question.

I'm not sure I understood it with the return of the children of Israel are returning back all around the world. The North left are the people you are day believers salvation. What we talked about multiple return back so if you could hopefully just if you could hold for me for just a bit.

Carl I'll get right back with the you guys get in line. We got some of the line 5007 2276 and we will be back with you after the spring this Matt slick. Why call 77207276 is Matt slick welcome back to go to Luke Wayne again filling in for Matt slick here in this Friday of February 4 happy to be here with you guys. We do have an open line to call in at 877-207-2276.

We would love to answer your questions. We are open back on with Carl from South Carolina who had a question about passages related to the return of Israel, Carl, you still with me yellow okay so we were just starting to talk before the break, and so if you could just live because of the new you had to repeat it. But just read restate your question and the you can try to zero in there with you? If you know a lot about the revelation we got game even more. But it has to do with the return of the children of Israel back to Israel and they are talking about returning back nor style of the East and West are the these people who are returning our date salvation are base pay. Are they believers in Christ are they of the old Jewish faith in Hebrew faith well without having a specific reference to look at live I wouldn't be able to give a blanket statement that every passage that mentions North, South, East and West's is definitely talking about this group of people or that group of people that I can talk a couple examples we can look at little show us some of the ways that this language is used. It is used in more than one way. So in Psalm 107, for example, says give thanks to the Lord for he is good for his lovingkindness is everlasting. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.

He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary and gathered from the lands from the east and from the West from the north and from the south. They wandered in the wilderness in a desert region. They did not find a way to an inhabited city. They were hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within the then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distress. In this case, the literal historic meaning of this has to do with the people being in the past people being literally physically delivered from their adversaries back 60 and so there've been times. Obviously, the Babylonian exile and God brought the people back to the land. But even before that, when they were portions of Israel were briefly given over to enemies and brought back. And so the there is a prophecy and fulfillment and celebration of those literal times for the physical people were driven from the physical land and been brought back to that lab and were affected by God's faithfulness shown through know that language is used, to look forward to the ultimate redemption and so I don't think it's completely divorced from salvation means literally every person that God brought physically out of exile is also eternally saved but to give it a New Testament example where that language is used as a picture of our future hope to come in Luke 13 we read in picking up a part of verse 28 where it talks first about the fate of those in judgment in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth that says when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, yourself being thrown out and they will come from east and west and from north and south and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God.

And behold, some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be left and so there is this rebuke on the Pharisees saying that their God is bringing up people into the eternal kingdom will dwell forever with him and with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and the prophets of all the redeemed of old and that you false teaching, Pharisees will be cast out of all of that and you will look on and see those who you think you are more righteous and better at that day because they received Christ will be saved because you rejected Christ you will be cast out. So in this context the gathering and of those from east and west and north and south absolutely is in itself physically into the kingdom. So it varies based on the passage that you're talking about its individual context, but that language of bringing people back from physical exile is often used two point forward to the redemption when we will be brought back from sin and death itself to live forever in the kingdom of God is we put our trust in our faith in Christ expense. Yeah I get that answer your question or am I kinda like what you are understand what they think of prophecy in the future be fulfilled about how the people of you who choose themselves are brought back you know in this migration will know the north being European East being maybe you know Russian and South. They always talk about Africa and a lot of people who are of the Jewish faith coming back actually physically coming back to Israel and either sign of the coastal return of Christ and setting up the kingdom.

That was a question like, okay. Are these people who are practically Jewish faith, are they also receiving Christ or they return or have the this is faith that okay there salvation in Christ alone and have become part of the broker or are they filled law of the Jews that are lost have not quite no repeat cry when they return physically on this profit. This profit is mentioned in Revelation, but III seen it in Isaiah.

Also, I'm sure it's another one of the real you. If you had a specific passage that I could look at the context of I would be in a much better position to answer your question, I am. I am of the position of personal event.

Romans 11 for example, does foretell a time before the end when there will be a great harvest among ethnic Israel and the people of the covenant people God according to the flesh will be drawn back in two new and better covenant in Christ.

They will be saved because they are coming in faith to Christ, so anyone who is saved, whether Jew or Gentile is saved only only because they have turned and put their trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and so what ever whatever one might see in prophecy about the future for for Jews in what you might take on both the literal physical land of Israel, or anything like that. Anyone who will be saved.

They will be saved because not because they returned to AA Seles commitment to an old covenant faith but does not include trusting in the fulfillment of that faith in Christ. If they are saved they are saved because they are coming in genuine faith and repentance, trusting in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross and trusting that he is the Messiah and Lord, the son of God and I personally believe that we are maybe not, we might W I'm not not predicting what time. This will happen at but that the day will come, that of there will be a great turn among ethnic Israel to Christ, and that that I think that I think as I understand. Romans 11 that it is laid out there that the branches of been cut off. The Gentiles grafted in the part of the purpose and that is to provoke of the Jews of the third of the people of ethnic Israel to jealousy for their God ultimately in the end they would be drawn back him and so that doesn't mean every Israelite who's ever lived will be saved. Of course, but it does mean I think before the end that there will be a great turning of Israel in the physical expense back to God through Christ through the only way one can come to God the way, in truth and the life that no one can come to the father except so again I can't point to the specific passages you're talking about without having them opened in front but I do think that ultimately there will be a great salvation among the Jews, if not in any way helps answer your question yeah that's how I kinda believe it when I read Scripture and through Scripture and the Holy Spirit.that's what my heart really appreciate your input and no problem no problem to have got any other questions. Anything else is not good. Thank you. Okay, we got lucky to you. Have a wonderful day.

Carl okay all right you know that's the interpretation of prophecy can sometimes lead us into divided camps and and that's that's good. We should dive deeper into those things we should we should strive together as believers to dig into the Scriptures and understand every word that God is spoken. Everything that the prophets of the apostles have written down and preserved for us. And yet, as we do that as we journey in the Scriptures together and do the labor of learning the word of the Lord, she would alter that that core truth will see over and over again whatever book herein. Whatever whatever you're reading. It's going to draw you back to that fact that you or Gentile slave or free man or woman, rich or poor, ancient or modern.

Whatever your background wherever you're coming from. You have sent and fallen short of the glory of God. Sin is the breaking of God's law.

We are cosmic criminals before our Creator and we deserve his punishment, which is torment forever in hell that is just that is right and that is that is the judgment that God has has laid out for all God remained in their sin, and yet God is a loving God and he is not left us to the inevitable fate that we deserve because of our sin, but has provided a way of escape, God sent his very eternal Word of God, the second person of the Trinity, God in flesh who came and did what we cannot do lived the perfect life fulfilled the law fulfilled all righteousness deserve nothing.

No pain, no death, and yet stood in our place and took upon himself for all who will repent and believe took the just punishment on himself and suffered death, even death on the cross. We began this show talking about the cross as it relates to get plugged.

We didn't hear back on the call. The only way of salvation, which sure trust in Jesus day.

Have a great weekend and we look forward to having Matt back on and talking with you guys again come Monday. God bless another program powered by the Truth Network