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November 3, 2021 6:30 am
Episode 829 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions.
Questions in this Episode
1. Can people commune with Satan and demons?
2. How do I know if I am breaking the 2nd commandment?
3. The word sacrament means mystery and in Ephesians Paul calls marriage a mystery—is this the same word used in each instance?
4. Is it ok for Christians to visit mediums?
5. As a Christian, we know we should have assurance, but if I feel like I have assurance of salvation, how do I know that I am not deceiving myself?
6. Can we see the Lord physically today?
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ResourcesCore Guide – 7 Things You Need to Know About Marriage and Sex
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Is marriage a sacrament is one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity why this is Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day.
Would love to hear from you and our phone lines will be open for the next 25 minutes. You can call us with your question. At 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 also post your question on one of our social media sites and you can always email us at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today let's go to Paul in Johnston Rhode Island Paul what your question for atrial hello hey Paul, I am anywhere in the grip it addresses. When we pray we know what he is up but if we okay Paul, well, you're right that when we pray to the Lord he hears us in this is something that John says in in first John, you know, we have we have this confidence that when we pray, if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. This is first John chapter 5, verse 14, and that means that we should go to the Lord with confidence in prayer, knowing that he listens to our prayers, and that when we pray according to his will, as the Lord Jesus taught us that God hears us that this is something that many many Christians struggle with questioning doubting that the Lord really hears their prayers. But there is no indication that Satan hears us when we talk made it let me just say you before you know when I would just don't talk to Satan. Good idea that that invoking the evil one, or spirit to me that there's something very problematic with that. Now the reason I can say that he doesn't hear us is because he's not omniscient he's not God he's finite.
He's limited he's a created being. But that doesn't mean that people don't get themselves into trouble and thinking in particular of the occult, witchcraft. Some of those things where you have these invocations of evil spirits and that the evil one is at work in the world today and there are demons at work in the world today. The spirit of the antichrist.
John talks about. Also in in first John and so I don't think it's a good idea at all to to even even go in that direction. We pray to the Lord and we know that he hears us, because we pray according to his word, and so thanks for that question.
Paul about this federal what if someone is saying something like, get behind me Satan or get away from you said maybe that could be another question. Can Satan hear us when were telling him in the Lord's name to flee from us have the Lord rebuke you yeah you you think about that scene in the Gospels where Jesus referred to Peter as Satan uses get behind me Satan. The idea there was Peter was saying you're not to go to the cross. You're not can suffer and die.
Jesus had been talking about his crucifixion in and that's when the Lord system, get behind me Satan. This is not this is not this your plan is not my plan. Peter you don't have the right idea. You don't know what I came to do and so I think in that sense yeah a week. We can say the Lord rebuke you, but just generally speaking, I don't think it's a it's certainly there's there's nothing in Scripture that that would indicate that we should be talking to the devil, by the way, we have great resource that we just released recently little booklets about 70 pages long, cold can the devil read my mind.
If you want to go deeper into this stuff get a hold of that resource you can find that by going to core Christianity.com/offers and look for can the devil read my mind.
Let's go to Tom in Johnstown Pennsylvania Tom what your question for atrial all my questions so I want to say, Pastor Israel or ministry, I wrote you guys do. My question is what actually constitutes a second commandment violation and is the different conclusions on this is something that Christians break fellowship over yes thank you for that question. The second commandment I'm looking at Exodus chapter 20 right now. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness or anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them. For I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments in in Israel to meet you think about the nations that surrounded them there in the ancient near East, and there was this practice of creating these idols. These images of God and then worshiping them and one of the things that was distinct about God's covenant people is they they worship the God who could not be seen, but who spoke whereas the idols of the world they could be seeing you know they have that mouth, but they don't speak the psalmist says in Psalm 115 eyes, but don't see years but don't here and so one of the things it was distinct about Israel's worship you just didn't have images of the deity. Why, because that would corrupt or sweet. We can't we can't box got up if you will with our own imagination by the danger is creating God in our own image, or misrepresenting who he is by creating these idols and that's what God was completely against and also in the New Testament, you know, you think about the earliest Christians you know the, the, the Romans often accused Christians of being atheists. They call them, a decent part of the reason for this was because the Christians didn't have these images of God like the neopagan world where you had these idols again and for all.
Early on in church history, and this is just this is just how the church operated were knocking to make images of God.
It wasn't until later on that you began to see things like iconography and imagery of God in the church and so I think that that the second commandment has to do with not making images of God that not worshiping them.
I think it's it's pretty clear and it's one of the ones that we many people many many Christians don't even really think about today, but that the big issue here is misrepresenting God we are so prone friends to make God in our own image to want to create a God that we can manipulate one that that looks and things just like we do. And so the Lords is on the note don't don't create or try to create me or what you think I'm like worship me as I've revealed myself to you in my word now is this something that Christians should break fellowship over or is it something that would would cause me to say, will that person who has a different view on the second commandment.
I don't think that there truly a believer I wouldn't I wouldn't say that I wouldn't say that somebody who took a different view on the Second Amendment was was not a Christian, but I think it really does affect the way in which we think about worship and piety because there are Christian traditions where this is a big thing where they talk about the veneration of images and and I would be opposed to that and so I couldn't be in fellowship or our worship in the church that was doing that and so hopefully that answers your question Tom, thank you so much and I God bless Tom, thanks so much for being a regular listener to core Christianity.
We appreciate you and your digging into God's word on a regular basis. That's very commendable. This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez and Thanksgiving here just a couple of weeks away. We actually have a very special resource just in time for the holiday. Yeah, we are offering this resource over it.
Core, Christianity.com and it's it's a wonderful resource. We were thinking about how how can we as followers of Jesus Christ. Give thanks to the Lord his God calls us to do throughout the Scripture you have these repeated exhortations give thanks for all things give thanks at all times want to help you to do that with this resource. Five biblical reminders for Thanksgiving and it's a free download free resource over it. Core, Christianity.com got some great material in their teaching us what it means to be grateful and to give thanks to the Lord and what our attitude should be as we approach Thanksgiving so check it out go to core Christianity.com/offers a look for five biblical reminders for Thanksgiving. Let's go to an email that we received from one of our listeners. This is from Nick federal and it says the word sacrament means mystery and in Ephesians, Paul calls marriage, a mystery. Is this the same word used in each instance I've been wondering why Protestants don't view marriage as a sacrament.
Hey, thank you for that very thoughtful question and you're right that Protestants don't view marriage as a sacrament. Although marriage is considered a sacrament in the Roman Catholic Church and other Christian traditions and marriage is referred to as a mystery. In Ephesians chapter 5 verse 32 pulses. This mystery is profound and I'm saying that it refers to Christ and the church that is the mystery that he's he's talking about there is that mystical union relationship that exists between Jesus and his bride, the church now what is a sacrament, a sacrament is a holy ordinance instituted by Jesus Christ by our Lord, wherein through through signs to sensible signs like water or bread and wine, Christ and the benefits of the new covenant described in places like Jeremiah 31 are represented before us in these and these tangible with the representatives sealed and applied to the faithful applied to believers, and so there these signs and seals of the gospel of God's gospel promises for us that were called as Christians as believers to lay hold of you some some people throughout the history of of the church of referred to these ordinances it or or sacraments as a visible word you think about the gospel being proclaimed audibly by by a preacher, the forgiveness of our sins through the death of Jesus Christ his resurrection from the dead. Well we get these visible pictures of of of that reality of the gospel of the work of Christ for us in baptism. They were baptized into Christ death and resurrection. Paul talks about this in Romans six and in the Lord's supper where where we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
We have this vivid picture of his body given for us, his blood shed for us and more than just a picture sign it. It seals the reality of those promises to us. A seal is something that certifies the reality of of something and we get this language of signs and seals in Scripture you think of what Paul says in Romans chapter 4 for example, where he talks about Abraham receiving the sign of circumcision, the seal of the righteousness that he had by faith and so this is this is biblical language and the reason we don't believe that marriage I don't believe that marriage is a sacrament is because it wasn't instituted by Christ as a representation of those those new covenant benefits if you will, the forgiveness of our sins that the death and resurrection of Jesus, the filling of the Holy Spirit. That doesn't mean that marriage is an important and that and in a real sense, as Paul says in Ephesians 5 it doesn't it doesn't raise our minds to the gospel insofar as marriages is about the relationship that Jesus has with his bride and the love that he has for his church. But we wouldn't say that it's a sacrament in the strict sense. And so appreciate that that question and I thank you for forgiveness and email your listening to core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez one reminder that some of the radio stations that air our program actually aired on a delayed basis. So if you want to call into the studio and talk to Israel live you want to do that at 11:30 AM Pacific 1230 Mountain time, 130 Central or 230 Eastern. That's the time that we are on the lot. If you hear the program at a later time in the day, then feel free to call in and leave us a voicemail with your question. At 833 the court let's go to Judy in Eldred Illinois Judy, what's your question for Pastor Israel know what you're telling it are about going to medium for reading and I know I think the Bible talked against it, but I can't find the Scripture to go back to it. Judy, thank you for that question. You know I had talked earlier little bit about how someone asked the question, you can see and hear us if we if we speak we speak to him before talking to him and one of the things I said is you know when when we invoke evil spirits or the dad and I think that there's a part of this and going to to mediums that that were giving an open door to Satan. And that's one of the reasons why the Bible throughout Scripture prohibits this firm for God's people. The Leviticus chapter 19 verse 31. Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God or Isaiah chapter 8 verse 19 when someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists.
You whisper and mutter should not a people inquire of their God. Why consult the dead on behalf of the living and so listen we have the true and the living God that we can go to don't go to a spiritist or a medium. This is something that is prohibited for the people that is is against God's law brings curse and judgment. I think of the scene in acts chapter 19 where is the gospel is advancing the apostle Paul is preaching. You have this amazing thing taking place in in Ephesus. Acts chapter 19 verse 17 and this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks and fear fell upon them all in the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. Also, many of those who were now believers came confessing and divulging their practices and a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the side of all they counted the value of them and found it came to 50,000 pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord continue to increase and prevail mightily. That is, is the word of God. Advances in society and in our own hearts.
We turn from these kinds of wicked things week we we we get rid of get rid of that from our lives and so a few passages of of the Scriptures there for you to consider. Judy and I love that reminder from Isaiah chapter 8 verse 19 should not a people inquire of their God. Let's go to the Lord, when we have questions of of spirituality. These these kinds of questions that we all have. Let's not go to the wrong sources Douglas.
I met great response. Thanks for that Israel. This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez, one of the ways you can submit a question to us is through our YouTube channel. You can actually watch Israel live on YouTube every day for 11:30 AM Pacific time.
There's a question from Emily. Who's watching right now on YouTube. She says I don't believe that the Bible affirms women pastors should we be mindful to stay away from their books or anything they put out Emily, thank you for for watching us on YouTube and for that question. I've I've really benefited from some of the.
The female scholars who are doing work in biblical theology, even even commenting on Scripture. Some of some of the, the best exegetical commentaries that are out there were written by women. Tonight I benefited from those commentaries. In my own ministry is I don't think that we should dismiss something simply because the person who wrote it is is a woman, certainly not fact, I think of unity in the book of acts or just looking at acts chapter 19 if you go back one chapter when you have this this sort of interesting seeing you have Apollo's is mighty in the Lord. He's preaching and teaching and he's eloquent competent in the Scriptures, and he had been instructed in the way of the Lord was fervent in spirit, and he spoke accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John, and he began to speak boldly in the synagogue.
But when Priscilla and Tukwila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. In other words, you have these two people, Priscilla and Aquila, who come alongside of this great teacher Apollo's and then they instruct them further in in the word so that he understands it more accurately we can learn brothers and sisters from anyone we ought to. We got to learn from the people who have sat at the feet of Jesus to study the Scriptures, who know the Scriptures and and ultimately that take the content of what they say and weighed against the Scriptures that's that's the most important thing is it in line with what the Bible teaches. And if it is that I would say we can we can really benefit from it.
And so in terms of written material commentaries.
Those kinds of things that I don't think that we have to just stick to that which was written by men appreciate that question. God bless. Thanks so much for watching us on YouTube. We appreciate that there's a question that came in from one of our listeners earlier this week. His name is Matthew high. As a Christian we know should have assurance of salvation, but how can I know that if I feel like I have the assurance of salvation that I'm not saving myself.
Thank you. You yeah that's a great that's a great question because we do believe that there are are those out there who are self deceived and when you think of what Jesus says in Matthew chapter 7 where he's rebuking that the religious you know leaders, the scribes and the Pharisees aces.
Many are going to say to me on that day on the day of judgment, Lord, Lord, and we do all these things in your name and then the Lord is going to respond to them depart for me.
I never knew you, you who practice lawlessness and everybody thought that they were there were the most pious. They were the most holy.
These are the people that really have their lives together.
They thought that they had it all together and yet they were in for a rude awakening. On the day of judgment, and people read those passages and they think a boy how do I make sure that I am not self deceived that I'm not just telling myself I'm I'm saved when in reality I'm not now the big question is do you believe in Jesus Christ. John the apostle could say in first John chapter 5 I'm writing these things to you who believe in the name of the son of God, that you might know that you have eternal life not I can say is I can say that because I'm just essentially quoting what John the apostle himself said John says if you truly believe in Jesus Christ for trusting in him for your salvation.
You can know that you have eternal life.
You can rest assured that in our confidence first and foremost has to be not in our own feelings, not in our lead of the perfection of our obedience. It has to be in the word of God in the promise of the gospel earlier.
You know we had that question about whether or not marriage was a sacrament what the sacraments are an image. These are these are gospel promises visible word to the people of God that were called to sink our teeth into that were called to say yes and amen to to receive them by faith.
It's it's those kinds of objective promise is the promise of the forgiveness of sins that ought to give us confidence that we are the children of God as we receive them by faith. And that's where that's where we rest brother and so I would say to you when when you're struggling when you're thinking a man I don't know am I in my really saved it when you're when you're in church and your about to take communion. The Lord's supper and you hear that the minister say quoting the words of Jesus. This is my body given for you and this is my blood shed for the forgiveness of sins take and drink do this in remembrance of me. As you take that bread and that wine no rest assured that by faith.
This is yours.
It belongs to you as a as a weary broken sinner is someone who is not perfect is someone who struggling to live the Christian life and obey the Lord.
The gospel is for you because it's for sinners and so you lay hold of it you sink your teeth into it and you rest in the promise of the gospel for you and so that that should be comfort. The main comfort for all of us because it's that gospel.
That's our objective that that took place that happened and belongs to the people of God. Hey, thanks for that question.
God bless God bless you. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Once again we have that free resource available for you. Just in time for Thanksgiving it. Some called five biblical reminders for Thanksgiving. You can find that by going to core Christianity.com/offers. Let's go to Mark in an Illinois mark what your question for Israel possible to see cars Jesus personally face-to-face well do you mean like right now Mark like will work here on earth or no, not right now idea 20 oh okay well what I what I would say is were all going to see the looming. John says we will see him as he is and will be like him and some have referred to this as the beatific vision the vision of God. That is when were in the presence of the Lord is on that since I say I say yeah were going to work and see the Lord and and were to be redeemed, and this is a part of our our salvation. You hear about people and sounds like this is what you're saying saying you know that I've had a vision of Jesus that kind of thing we don't see Jesus bodily or physically, because Jesus ascended into heaven and is at the right hand of the father.
He's gonna come back one day to rescue his bride to redeem his church to judge the world for its sin, were looking forward to that day. That's not something that is happened already and so I say one day we will see the Lord when were in his presence for all time and that's can be topless. Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us at core, Christianity.com and click on offers and the menu bar or call us at 1-833-843-2673. That's 833 when you contact us. Please let us know how you been encouraged by this program and be sure to join us next time. As we explore the truth of God's word together