What Do Most Christians Misunderstand About Their Faith? Celebrating 4 years of Core Christianity

What most Christians misunderstand about their faith, which is one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity will hi Abdul Mira Loma, Pastor Israel Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day.

You can call us right now with your question. At 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also post your question on one of our social media sites course you can always email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com want to wish you a very happy Labor Day and believe it or not.

Today is also the four year anniversary of core Christianity there is RS studio audience fill.

Yeah, all six of them now for four years ago that was 2018 so you were a young pastor starting this radio show. I'm curious, what was that like for you, it was awesome. I mean it was exciting and III just when I first got the opportunity to do this just felt like an image still just feels like such a great privilege to begin to talk about the Bible to get to talk about Jesus, to a broader audience and and hopefully encourage you all in your face and in your walk with the Lord. And so back in 2000, and we are from. We are for starting a think there was maybe a little bit of fear and in trepidation as well in a wonderworking what is this going to look like and what if I get crazy you know question on the air those kinds of things but man it's been just a lot of fun.

And so, so grateful to the Lord for this privilege and opportunity what is changed in your life since you started the show. Four years ago. I know you had a new baby. What else is changed. Yeah I'm I'm balding actually call it edges and I don't know if that's that's just the distress of the that question I covet. I think it's also pastoral ministry to be honest took to be fair, but A couple kids as well.

Boy, I got five now so I don't know. In that time I think we had three in that in that time Rupert to and that changed and then just plugging away at the church. You know, praising God for his faithfulness there and slow and steady growth.

And so yeah just count your blessings and and saying thank you to the Lord and Bill man. Such a joy to get to do this with you to you've been just been been wonderful. It's it's great to work with you. We also want to express our thanks to Dr. Michael Horton, who really is the one who founded this whole idea four years ago and has the wonderful book core Christianity which we offer to our listeners and we just appreciate him so much. Don't we do yeah Mike is a guy that I've I've always looked at me. I had him as a professor in seminary and just from that time. If have looked up to him and he's been a huge encouragement in my life. So some curious after four years of being on the air. It seems that the question we received most often in some way shape or form has to do with the assurance of salvation. In other words, how can I know that I'm really saved and so what is that question tell you was a pastor about the church today and what what people are struggling with. Yeah, you're right about that. We will people ask me I you know what what question it more than it essays is typically some variation of of that you know struggling with assurance wondering about passages that seem to suggest, you can lose your salvation, or have I committed the unpardonable sin, the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit when we get that that question quite a bit and I think at least what you were to bill with you what that tell us about the church it I think. I think a lot of people are looking for assurance in the wrong places.

I think instead of going to the gospel. The objective grace of God exhibited to us at the cross for the forgiveness of our sins and sinking our teeth into that.

We do a lot of navelgazing were looking inside you know how how righteous my house sanctified in my am I having good thoughts or bad thoughts and and that's a sort of a roller coaster ride of spirituality because you were doing well.

We feel like were saved and then we go through a season of difficulty are not really feeling the presence of the Lord. We question whether or not were saved. Whereas we need to sink our teeth into the promises of God, and in most of all the promise that is given to us in his son Jesus Christ to forgive all of our sins through faith in his name. And so week we go back to that gospel.

As you know Bill over and over and over again because we want to fix your eyes on Jesus, you know that the illustration of a roller coaster ride of faith is so true. I was thinking back to my experiences at Magic Mountain running the Viper or Colossus not there are many times where I wanted am I going to survive this.

And I sure hope I'm in a be in heaven.

If well I just was at Belmont Park in San Diego and there is a roller coaster there and I forget what it's called. It's a real wooden roller coaster sows really well and now's the little mouse is very excited to write it with my kids and I had a headache after commitment my neck. I was like it was cranking me all over the place and so that that roller coaster ride of the Christian life is not always a good or exciting thing you know it's it's a major headache like writing that roller coaster it on my list for me. So now we need the stability of the gospel and men I meant this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Here's our phone number.

You can leave us a voicemail 24 hours a day by calling us at 833 book core that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also send us an email at questions at core, Christianity.com. Let's go to Steve who is calling in from Nashville, Tennessee. Steve what your question for Israel here Nashville I had a question regarding humanity and it was fully God and fully human while he was here on earth and seemingly through the upper room after the resurrection.

You will be fully God and fully human in eternity future was Jesus Christ holy God and fully human in eternity past, and I'm wondering because in eternity. There is no time so what we would be here take on Steve. I love talking about the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. I think it's one of the great mysteries of the faith but we oftentimes minimize it when we talk about salvation you. We focus on the cross and rightly so book, but the incarnation is a part of our redemption, God the son, the eternal son of God. Assuming humanity for us for us and for our salvation from the womb of the Virgin Mary and that happened at a particular point in time and so while the answer is need of God the son is has united to himself humanity for all for all time now. Prior to the incarnation God the son had not assumed humanity so the answer to your question simply would would just be no he wasn't you know anything eternity past.

He wasn't didn't have human nature that happened at the incarnation, the way in which the church fathers sometimes talk about this in the earliest theologians as they were debating and discussing the, the incarnation of Christ. The doctrine of Christology is the say things like God became what he was not without without ever ceasing to be what he always was another words that that that this change. There was this this this assumption of humanity, but he never ceased to be God or less than always the divine person, the second person of the holy Trinity men and you get this at various places in the chest with one text I just want to read. Steve is Philippians chapter 2 this this beautiful siblings, a poem, or him a song. Paula start verse four Paul says let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him, and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the father. There we see again just dismiss beautiful picture of the incarnation, the humiliation of our Lord for us for our redemption and in the example, the model that was set there for us as well for us not to look out for our own interest-only but for the interests of others to man. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez's we have the calls come in in and would love to hear from you. 833-843-2673. That's 833 the core. You can also post your question. Whenever social media sites and of course you can watch a real live in the studio on YouTube every day at 11:30 AM Pacific time and send us a message. That way, this call came in from Kansas City, Missouri. One of our listeners says can you explain the real meaning of God's sovereignty.

Only the real meaning. Well, I think a lot of times when people have discussions about God's sovereignty. They focus on God's sovereignty in salvation doctrines like the doctrine of predestination or or divine election God choosing people for salvation so I don't know if that's that's what you're getting out specifically or just more broadly thinking about the sovereignty of God but but when we think about God's sovereignty more broadly. Were talking about the fact that God is the great King who rules over all that all things happen according to the counsel of his will as Paul says in Ephesians chapter 1 I'm you know that right now working through Psalm 115 and there there is at the very beginning of the Psalm this statement. Why should the nation say where is their God.

Verse three. Our God is in the heavens. He does all that he pleases. Another words, God is sovereign.

His hands are not high. He rules the entire world and an end. So it let me that's that's what it means when we say that God is sovereign, that he is the great King of all. But there are so many I think is practical, pastoral benefits to understanding this because when we look at the world around us.

I think it's easy to to to feel like okay things are going really off the rails right now like is God still in control is of being reminded of the fact that God sits on his throne and he rules all things I've I'm also preaching to the book of Revelation written on this is one of the things that that John throughout the book of Revelation visions that he gets on that. He continues to reiterate for the church suffering throughout Asia minor there in the in the first century persecution and famine and and in a loss of income.

At times, and they were really struggling so that you know intense suffering and persecution for some of those churches there in Asia minor and the visions, the heavenly vision that John gets reminds them over and over again that God is actually the one who still driving the bus. He's he's he's he's leading all things, directing the course of history. Why because he sovereign, it's who he is. He's on the throne and that should give us comfort and peace even when things are difficult when it when it feels like there's chaos all around us, knowing, Lord, you have not lost control. You are not surprised by the things that surprise us, whether that stuff that that happens outside in the world in society and culture, or it's it's that the difficulties and trials that we face the cancer diagnosis. The loss of a loved one what whatever it is, brothers and sisters. God knows. He knows our pain. He he he sees.

He sees us in in our brokenness, but he is not overwhelmed by our suffering. He still in control and that something that should comfort us as we go to him this we pray to him and receive the peace that he gives us as the great King of heaven and earth. Your listing to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez on this Labor Day we have a very special resource one offering especially one about my favorite authors, Dr. Tim Keller.

Yeah, what a great what a great resource to be offering on Labor Day. It's a book called every good endeavor night as Bill said it's written by Tim Keller, pastor for many years in in the New York and a book that I've read. I have just been blessed by encouraged by I think it's it's something that is we think of the theology of work then and what it means to offer ourselves to the Lord in all that we do. You just go to be really encouraged by this resource and so head over to core Christianity.com and get a hold of every good endeavor for donation of any amount love to have you get that especially on this Labor Day. If you been thinking about work or if you're let's say I'm not in the workforce right now. Or maybe retire. This is just such an excellent book that really explains God's view of work and vocation and you can find that by going to core Christianity.com/offers again core Christianity.com/offers.

Look for every good endeavor connecting your work to God's work.

Let's go to a voicemail that came in from one of our listeners. This was from David. Why not for long. Hey David, thank you for that question, ma'am. If you're talking about about yourself I do I don't I don't know but I mean praise God for for the individual who has come to a saving knowledge of Christ, any time a sinner repents there is celebration in heaven, and so is of it will go if if you visit your time by yourself and I just was a welcome brother to the family of God and the apostle Paul.

He gives instruction related to this this very thing in first Corinthians chapter 7 in verse 10 he wrote to the married I give this charge not I but the Lord, the wife should not separate from her husband. But if she does, she should remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband and the husband should not divorce his wife to the rest I say why not the Lord that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever and she consents to live with him he should not divorce her.

If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever and he consents to live with her she should not divorce him for the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, but as it is they are holy. But verse 15. If the unbelieving partner separates.

Let it be so. In such cases, the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace for how do you know wife, whether you will save your husband or how do you know husband whether you will save your wife and so if you're up you're a believer you've come to faith in Jesus Christ but your spouse is not there yet. They date maybe lately you know that. Like you said that they say that they believe are there willing to go to church here and there but they don't really understand the gospel yet, but that would think they want to be married to that they love you, Paul says wonderful you shouldn't. You shouldn't leave or separator or divorce. How do you know right husband whether you will save your wife from a course what he means by that is how you know what you you won't be influence the one who shares the gospel whose example, God uses in in her life to draw her to Jesus and and so I would just encourage you man to to seek the Lord to pray for your spouse to model as best you can and I'm even even as you know sinful you individuals model as best you can on the grace of the Lord Jesus and a life that's been shaped by the gospel, by the forgiveness of sins so that you can talk about those things with your spouse. You can talk about the work that the Lord is done about the great grace that you have received and and invite her to experience that and receive that as well and so the second moment just to pray for, for this brother for this situation for all all those relationships or you have a couple where we know the husband or the wife is a believer, but there their spouse isn't just praying that the Lord would do work in those marriages father Lord, we pray for those marriages where that that that there their mixed Lord and on the same page with regard to Jesus your son. Father I pray that you would give strength, grace, perseverance to the Christian spouses in those marriages that Lord you would you would help them Lord to be examples of godly conduct of the fruit of exhibiting the fruit of your Holy Spirit, that that would be attractive and would would draw their spouse closer to you as they see the love, the joy, the peace, the patient's goodness that the gentleness the faithfulness the self-control that's that's brought about by the work of your spirit in the life of your people and for Lord those the spouses that are not believers. Would you do the work that only you can do by the grace of your Holy Spirit using your gospel your word to open the heart and to encourage and to draw them into your kingdom to receive your grace by faith. So be with with this brother. Specifically, Lord, bless him, bless his marriage and and be with all those marriages, Lord, at work, and all those marriages that that need your mercy in the situation. Drawing people to yourself in Jesus name, amen, amen, thanks for that. Israel you're listening to core Christianity with pastor Adm. Sanchez we mentioned before that we have several social media sites, including our Instagram page and we have this question that came in from one of our listeners. They say happy anniversary there's referring to our fourth anniversary of this program and they say pastor a drill over the past four years. What is one question that is really stuck out to you in boy that minutes admits it's a hard one answer, but I do know I do know if you have one for me is as we answer so many questions every single day. Sometimes you will asked me, you know, hey, do you remember when you answered this question about no such and such and and I'll just have to say I'd I sort of knew, but I don't.

I can tell you what month that was.

I can tell because it's so many questions that we we answer, but I'll tell you what does.

Maybe it's not a specific question, but it's a kind of question that always stands out to me billing and I'm curious to hear your thoughts as well. Here, those questions where we can tell on the broadcast and individuals calling in and they're desperate for help and they just need some pastoral care and biblical insight and in wisdom and in those questions. Always stick with me because I'm struck by the fact that for some people.

I just don't know where to turn.

Where to go and so they call in and and you can hear oftentimes and there in their voices. Just the desperation and so we take, we take that very seriously. We pray for them.

We ask God every day before we we record for wisdom for grace for the filling of his Holy Spirit as we answer these questions and then we we try to encourage those individuals to get plugged into solid churches where they're going to have community where they're going to be able to go to their their own pastor and elders and can get the encouragement that they need and so Bill those the questions it really that really stick with me that that make me imprint me in some ways excited that we can we get to do this and in and hopefully encourage people who need encouragement. But what about you is there is a question for you that that really sticks out a type of question.

Who are the methyl him yes that is a bill that year and Evelyn might think that is about several different times every people are familiar with the Old Testament there kind of a confusing racer character. They are no we do billions got a listen to those those times are people call in and ask. And although I will have you not been paying attention.

We get that pretty often manlike that the that's usually give you say could be one of three things. So there you go. Yeah right. That is typically how I answer it one of three things.

There's kind of where I lean yeah so that's that's pretty funny well okay that's that's year that you go to Honda who are there.

If you're not familiar with enough limited to Google it and find out what words like about this is core Christianity with pastor Adm. Sanchez.

It is the fourth anniversary of our program on this Labor Day and were excited about that.

We do receive voicemails here at the core and here's one that came in from one of our listeners named Steve. No call from Patty asking about picking the Lord's name in vain and I would like a little more clarification. The way that we speak now will say oh my God. Later expressed surprise Old Testament OMG is that considered taking the Lord's name in vain.

Plaintiff wondered if we could Paul I keep yes I would say it's it's treating God's name in a way that it shouldn't be treated lightly. We want that we want to reference the holy name of God with how we speak and also with how we live, and so there's your short answer, Steve. God bless you and thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer.

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