December 11, 2024 • 28 mins
On today’s Bible Answer Man broadcast (12/11/24), Hank discusses the common mistake that Christians make in supposing an unbeliever can be talked into the kingdom of God. Often the problem is not that one cannot believe but one will not believe.
Hank also answers the following questions:
My daughter attends church on Saturdays and our church on Sundays. Our pastor told her that she cannot go to two different churches. What should I do? Julie - Newnan, GA (2:45)
Some churches think the Ten Commandments are void. Should we still observe them today? Ron - Memphis, TN (4:58)
What is your opinion about Israel existing today, and the right of present-day Jews to occupy that land? Jim - San Antonio, TX (15:14)
Hank also answers the following questions:
My daughter attends church on Saturdays and our church on Sundays. Our pastor told her that she cannot go to two different churches. What should I do? Julie - Newnan, GA (2:45)
Some churches think the Ten Commandments are void. Should we still observe them today? Ron - Memphis, TN (4:58)
What is your opinion about Israel existing today, and the right of present-day Jews to occupy that land? Jim - San Antonio, TX (15:14)
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Heard all across the United States, Canada and around the world.
This is the Bible answer Man Broadcast with Hank Annagraph.
Hank as President of the Christian Research Institute at CRI.
Our desire is to equip you not only to defend
the historic Christian faith, but to become a winsome witness
to a spiritually hungry but skeptical world, because life and
(00:31):
truth matter. To learn more or to find resources to
help you grow in grace, call eight eight eight seven
thousand CROI or go online to equip dot org. That's
equip dot org. The following program was pre recorded and
now here's Hank Canagraph.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Thank you very much, Randy. In just a word as
we get started, before we go to your calls, I
want to mention that what we do here at the
Christian Recas Sarche Institute is we prepare people's hearts. We
give them the resources so that they can be effective
tools in the hands of the Holy Spirit. But a
common mistake derives from the notion that someone can be
(01:14):
talked into the Kingdom of God. We can't do that.
The motivation may be sincere, but the consequences sometimes they're devastating.
No matter how eloquent you might or might not be,
you can't change anyone's heart. Only the Holy Spirit can
do that. So while it is your responsibility to always
be prepared to give an answer, it is only God
(01:38):
who ultimately can change the heart. The problem, of course,
is not that people cannot believe. It is that people
will not believe. In other words, it's often not a
matter of the mind, it's a matter of the will.
And that is why we say a man convinced against
his will is of the same opinionion. Still, the Christian
(02:02):
faith is reasonable, but reason alone will not compel a
person to embrace Jesus Christ. I'm utterly convinced that if
we are prepared, however, to give an answer, God will
bring into our past those whose hearts He has sovereignly prepared.
And so it is our responsibility to prepare ourselves to
be the most effective tools in the hands of Almighty God.
(02:25):
And that is what we are doing to the Christian
Research Institute. We are developing those discernment skills, becoming so
familiar with truth that when counterfeits loom on the horizon,
we know it instantaneously, and then using our well reasoned
answer as an opportunity to share the truth. A lot
of you hanging on. We'll go right to the phone lines.
(02:47):
First up is Julie. She's listening in Georgia.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Hi Julie, Hi Hank.
Speaker 4 (02:52):
It's a pleasure to talk with you. And I want
to thank you and the staff of CRI for your
service to the Body of Christ, very instrumental in my
life many times over the years.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Oh bless you.
Speaker 4 (03:06):
I have a question about attending two different churches weekly.
My daughter attends a church service on Saturday evenings and
then she attends church with us Sunday morning. And the
church that our family goes to on Sunday morning is small,
and it's a new church, and the pastor there has
(03:30):
kind of given an ultimatum saying she needs to choose
where she's going to go to church because she cannot
go to two churches and attend his church.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Well, well that's pretty radical. I mean, I think it
is true that we need to identify with a fellowship
of believers. I think that's absolutely correct. But I mean,
what an incredible blessing that your taughtter wants to go
to church such that she's attending two churches. She's part
of one church and also so fellowshipping with another church.
(04:02):
I don't see a problem with that. I would think
that that would be a great blessing that she's that
spiritually hungry and motivated to be in the House of God.
But having said that again, I think it is important
to identify with a body of believers. But I don't
see this as a problem. It as a promise.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
Okay, well that's kind of what we thought, but kind
of putting a predicament with him and didn't want to
split up our family.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
And yeah, I mean, I think what's important is that
she does become a vital, reproducing member in a church,
and that she considers that to be her church, but
to attend other services as well, to be nurtured or
blessed or edified. I mean, I don't say what could
(04:48):
possibly be wrong with that.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
Okay, all right, Well, that's very helpful.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Thank you for your call, Julie.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Blessings to you and your daughter. Back to the phone lines,
we'll talk to ro in Memphis, Tennessee. Hi, Ron, Hi,
are you all right?
Speaker 5 (05:06):
Actually I'm dealing with the same thing. On my hand,
I don't attend just one church myself and I'm dealing
with that same issue as my family. But the question
I had was, you know, because I'm going I'm going
to so many different churches, and I read the Word
of God a lot, you know, and you know consistently
(05:29):
is all of the churches, don't you know? Look at
the Ten Commandments, as you know, some of them believe
that it's it's void now. And you know, one church
in particular is saying that I was talking about the
Fourth Commandment in general, and I was trying to get
(05:52):
your opinion on all of this.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Well, I think you have to look at what the
law is designed to do. First and foremost, it is
designed to maintain order in society. But from a spiritual standpoint,
there's much more in that. It reveals sin, it becomes
the school master that driveses to Jesus Christ, and of
course it also is a guide for the believer in
living out the Christian life. So on the one hand,
(06:17):
it is right to say that the civil and ceremonial
aspects of the law have been fulfilled in Jesus Christ,
and therefore they're abrogated. In other words, you don't have
to worry about dietary laws if you eat shellfish. It's
not an abomination, Jesus says, it's not what goes into
your mouth and out through your body that defiles you,
as that which proceeds from the heart. But in saying
(06:38):
that we should not ever neglect the moral aspects of
the law as delineated in the Ten Commandments. So while
the New Testament emphasis is on grace, the law remains
a guide for living out the Christian life. I'm not
talking about legalism, but I am talking about the law,
and that law ultimately is fulfilled in the Fourth Commandment
in Jesus Christ. It's in Jesus Christ that we have
(07:01):
our sabbath rest. So we continue to honor the Lord
by an emphasis on rest for one day, work for
six days, because in Jesus Christ we have our sabbath rest.
He is the one that fulfills all the types and shadows. Therefore,
(07:21):
we see on the one hand that we shouldn't be
slavishly bound to sabbatarian laws such that if you light
a fire, someone has to kill you or stone to death.
But on the other hand, you recognize that that law
points to something Jesus Christ. It was the substance that
fulfills all the types and shadows, and that the law
(07:42):
yet becomes moral parameter for us to live out the
Christian life in a way that is pleasing to our savior.
Speaker 5 (07:50):
Okay, that's that's good, because I mean, don't get me wrong.
I pray on all of the things that I hear
and you know, so that I can get understanding. And
understanding I got was that Jesus was the law basically
in so many words. You know, not have to make
this a long conversation, but you know, and that he
(08:14):
was nailed to the cross.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Well, it is true that we're no longer subject to
legalistic prescriptions. And that's why I say the civil and
ceremonial aspects of the law. The civil aspect, which was
largely a function of a theocracy, and the ceremonial aspects
of the law, they're fulfilled in Jesus Christ. So we
(08:37):
don't have to continue with the civil and ceremonial aspects
of the law. Jesus Christ has kept the law for us.
But remember Jesus Christ said, I did not come to
abolish the law and the prophets. I came to fulfill them.
So he is the fulfillment of the law and the prophets.
He did what we could not do, But that does
not negate the fact that there are moral aspects of
(08:59):
the law that are just as efficacious today as they
were in the time of Moses. For example, thou shalt
not murder. That's something that we should obey today, just
as it should have been obeyed in the Old Testament.
Thou shalt not commit adultery. That is yet efficacious today.
(09:20):
Honor your father and mother. That's something that we should
continue to do. So the law is still a guide
for living out the Christian life.
Speaker 5 (09:29):
Right, Okay, that's that's very helpful. I was just trying
to get in a clearer picture because, you know, personally,
if I told my mom, you know, she was explaining
to me with our you know, our I go to
her church also what our preacher said, and he said,
(09:50):
you can choose any day as your sabbath, and you know,
but at the same time, did it seem strange that she,
you know, gets on me about changing, you know, my
sabbath consistently to help her do this or help her
do that. And I'm like, you know, I'm not really
I'm trying to do my best, you know, with guy's help.
(10:12):
You know, and it's not I'm not really It's like saying, Okay,
lie this time for me, you know, or you know,
go ahead and you know, cove it a little bit,
you know, this time because I need you to help
me get a job or whatever the case may be.
It's almost as if you know, I'm still I'm just
(10:33):
being subtly forced to sind.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Yeah. Well, and I think it's good that you have
a conscience there. Remember the words that you alluded to
are in scripture. Don't let anyone judge you by what
you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival,
a new moon celebration, or a Sabbath day. These are
a shadow of the things that were to come to reality. However,
(11:00):
is found in Jesus Christ.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
Be right back. The famous British apologist G. K. Chesterton
once noted, the true soldier fights not because he hates
what is in front of him, but because he loves
what is behind him. Because at CRII we love what
is behind us, our faith, our families, and our freedoms.
We will never retreat quietly from the growing assaults on
(11:23):
life and truth, even when the costs are great. We
will stand to join like minded friends in making a
difference at home and around the globe, and to equip
fellow believers to stand their ground courageously. Become a member
of CRI's support team. Simply call eight eight eight seven
thousand CRII. That's eight eight eight seven thousand CRI, or
(11:46):
visit our website at equip dot org. Stay with us.
Hank Canigraph will return in a few moments. The Complete
Bible answer Book Collector's Edition is the comprehensive collection of
the most often asked questions Hank Hannigraph has received throughout
(12:09):
his four decades as host of the Bible answer Man broadcast.
With more than half a million copies already in print,
this newly revised and expanded Collector's Edition helped seekers and
skeptics alike sort through the truth on topics such as
reliability of the Bible, religions and cults, the resurrection and afterlife,
(12:29):
and many more issues vital to a better understanding of
God in Christ and our relationship to Him. To receive
your copy of the Complete Bible answer Book Collector's Edition,
Revised and expanded, call eight eight eight seven thousand CRII
and make a gift to support the Christian Research Institute's
Life changing outreaches eight eight eight seven thousand CRII or
(12:54):
visit us at equip dot org. Anyone who's been paying
attention knows there's a war going on, not just on
traditional morality, civility, and decency, but even more fundamentally on
historic notions of truth. And the enemy isn't just the
onslaught of fake news, facilitated by a post truth culture
(13:17):
and turbocharged by growing legions of ideological spind doctors note
the real enemies of truth range from postmodernist convictions that
there is no objective truth to militant scientism that claims
that only science can determine truth and religion is little
more than primitive superstitions. But CRI Support Team members are
(13:38):
not waving a white flag of surrender. They're holding the
fort by undergirding everyone of Christian Research Institute's mind shaping
and life changing outreaches twenty four to seven. To learn
how you can make a difference and enjoy all the
benefits of Support Team membership, simply visit equip dot org.
(14:01):
An infinite God reduced to the size of a human embryo,
the creator of time, and space, invading both in human form.
Such is the mystery and the majesty of the Incarnation
Supreme being condescending to become one of us. Perhaps nothing
is more important than grasping the significance of the coming
(14:22):
God in human flesh. Without the life, death, and resurrection
of the incarnate One who walked among us, our world
would be unfathomably dark. To be equipped as a witness
and to be inspired in your walk, you'll want to
feast on Hank Hantagraph's book Incarnation, The Ultimate Self Revelation
(14:43):
of God. To receive your copy of Incarnation, simply call
eight eight eight seven thousand CURI and make a gift
to support Curi's life changing outreaches or visit equip dot
org equip dot org. Now back to the Bible answer
(15:08):
Man broadcast and your host and Canagraph.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
Thank you very much for Randy. Let's go right back
to our phone calls. Next up is Jim. He's listening
in San Antonio, Texas. Hi Jim, hell sir, how are you.
I'm well? Thank you.
Speaker 3 (15:22):
I was wondering about your point of view, your opinion
about Israel existing today and the right of the present
day Jews to occupy that land.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
Well, I have no problem for that whatsoever. I've never
expressed a problem with that. My problem is always righteousness,
injustice and equity. And therefore I don't think that we
should stand lockstep with anyone who's involved in atrocities, whether
in America or Germany, or Israel or Iran. We should
(15:58):
not be pro jew We should be pro justice. We
should not be pro Palestinian. We should be pro peace.
We are called to be the arbiters of God's justice,
love and righteousness, and those who are ambassadors who are communicating.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
The gospel interrupting, But if I might focus, because I
and I don't mean in any way to be accusatory
or belligeron but I and perhaps I misunderstood that's what
prompted might call. And I understand the eloquence in the
dietype you just issued, and that's absolutely correct. I do
agree with that. But focusing on my question is what
(16:36):
is do you feel that modern day Israel it does
belong to the modern day Jews, and they have a
right to live in the Land of Israel, and it
does belong to them, And I'm not picking a fight,
and how.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Does it belong to them. I'm trying to understand what
you're saying. How does it belong to them in what way?
Speaker 3 (16:55):
Well? I do you believe that these are the Israelite
the Jews? And do you believe that God gave it
to them?
Speaker 2 (17:03):
Well, I don't know what the question is communicating me.
And if you think that that land belongs to Israel,
do you believe in the Old Testament edict that all
the land from the River of Egypt to the Euphrates
belongs to Israel?
Speaker 3 (17:18):
Well, that's a fine technique to revert my question.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
No, No, I think this is a very important question
for me to answer your question. I'm asking if, in
fact you believe in the Old Testament boundaries, do you
believe that the northern part of Saudi Arabia and Lebanon
and part of Jordan and Iraq belonged to Israel?
Speaker 3 (17:38):
I have to with a fair, honest answer. I'll be
courteous enough to respond to yours. First, My impression is
that God never changes and what God said, whatever he said,
is the truth of God, and that is what ought
to be followed, sir, if it's in the Bible, Yes, Sir,
I believe that.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
Well, I'm really happy to hear that. So you agree
with my point of view. I mean, this is the
quintessential point of understanding for John as well as the
rest of the disciples. I mean, previously they had been
under misconceptions, like the misconceptions of modern day Christian Zionists.
They had expected Jesus to establish Jerusalem as the capital
of a sovereign Jewish empire. In fact, that notion was
(18:20):
so ingrained in their psychees that even as Jesus was
about to ascend into heaven, they asked, Lord, are you
at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel. Well,
Jesus not only corrected this erroneous thinking, but expanded their
horizons from a tiny strip of land on the east
coast of the Mediterranean Sea to the farthest reaches of
(18:42):
the world. Remember, he said, you will receive power when
the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be
my witnesses in Jerusalem and in Old Judea and Samaria,
and to the ends of the earth. In effect, Jesus
left his disciples instructions to exit Jerusalem, to embrace the earth,
(19:04):
and never again entertain the thought of establishing an earthly Jerusalem.
So I think what's important to recognize is that God's
plan became a tangible reality with respect to physical land
when Joshua led the children of Israel into Palestine. And
(19:26):
Joshua in fact exuded not one of all the good
promises the Lord your God gave to you has failed.
Every promise has been fulfilled. And of course those promises
reached their zenith under Solomon. And that's why I mentioned
the River Euphrates and the River of Egypt. But what
(19:48):
happened ultimately the land vomited out the children of the promise,
just as it has vomited out the Canaanites before them.
So God's promise to Abraham was a preliminary phase in
a promise that ultimately would extend to a royal seed,
(20:10):
Jesus Christ. Because Abraham was not just the father of
a nation, but Abram became Abraham, father of many nations,
and Abraham therefore would be heir of the world. And
the climax of the promise would not be Palestine regained,
but paradise restored. In Christ, the last Adam, God's promise
(20:35):
finds ultimate fulfillment. So if you belong to Jesus Christ,
then you are Abraham's seed and an air according to
the promise. And of course Peter finally recognizes this as well.
There's a time in which he was very diluted on
this point, and so God sends him a vision, and
(20:58):
it's a vision of unclean food. He experiences the vision
in Joppa, and only after he encountered Cornelius did he
comprehend the import of the vision. And then he said,
I now realize how true it is that God does
not show favoritism, but accepts men from every nation who
(21:21):
fear Him and do what is right. So my point
is race is of no consequence to Jesus Christ, nor
is real estate. And Jesus oriented the thinking of his
disciples therefore from a restored Jewish state to a kingdom
that knows no borders or boundaries. He said, my kingdom
(21:45):
before Pilot is not of this world. And that's why
the writer of Hebrews makes clear that the rest the
descendants of Abraham experienced when they entered the Land is
but a type of the rest we experience when we
enter an eternal relationship with the Lord. The land provided
(22:06):
temporal rest for the physical descendants of Abraham. The Lord
provides eternal rest for the spiritual descendants of Abraham. And
do remember this that the Israelites as a nation, and
again this is not a nation of race, but people
gathered together around types and shadows pointing forward to Jesus Christ.
(22:28):
And therefore Rahab a Canaanite, was true Israel, Ruth a Moabite,
was true Israel. Those that left Egypt with Israel was
true Israel. They were gathered around types and shadows pointing
ultimately to Jesus Christ. So what is going on here
(22:50):
is significant to recognize, and that is that true Israel
has always been gathered together in belief of Jesus Christ
in the Old Testament, through types and shadows in the
New through the reality the coming of Jesus Christ on
(23:13):
the Cross. So I think it's wonderful that you understand
that Canaan is the typological of renewed Cosmos. Abraham was
anything but a Zionist. Like Isaac and Jacob. He viewed
living in the Promised Land in the same way that
a stranger would view living in a foreign country. Because
of the right of Hebrews makes plain he was looking
forward to a city with foundations whose architect and builder
(23:37):
is God. And remember, the Israelites were cast out of
the land for a reason. They had become harlots. That's
the imagery of the Old Testament prophets, graphic imagery in
Jeremiah and Ezekiel, for example. So they were exiled from
the land because what God said to them is, if
(23:57):
you followed the abominable ways of the pagan nations that
were in that land before you were in the land,
that land is going to vomit you out, just as
it vomited them out. So if they were exiled in unbelief,
why in the world would God bring them back in
the land in unbelief. The point, obviously, is not that
(24:19):
Israel can't exist for geopolitical reasons. And we may be
very happy that there's a democracy in the Middle East,
and you may make all kinds of good political and
geo socioeconomic reasoning for why Israel should exist, and I
don't deny any of that, but the idea that somehow
(24:41):
or other, they have a right to the land and
therefore they can do whatever they want or be involved
in things that are displeasing to God or just in
terms of natural justice and equity and righteousness. Of course,
not none of us can do that. I can't do that,
You can't do that, people can't do that, nations can't
do that, and they certainly can't do that. And say, well,
(25:03):
you know, God gave us the title deed, we are
the sons of Abraham. Jesus said, out of these rocks,
out of these stones, I can make sons of Abraham.
And there are those who say there are Jews, but
they're not Jews. They're a synagogue. As Saint true Israel
is always those gathered around the royal seat of Abraham,
(25:23):
and Galatians makes that clear. Galatian says Abraham only had
one seed. That seat is Jesus Christ. If you are
in Christ, then you are the seed of Abraham and
an heir according to the promise. Out of here for today,
look forward to seeing you next time with more of
the show.
Speaker 1 (25:40):
Thank you for joining us for the Bible answer Man
broadcast in today's post truth culture of confusion. The Christian
Research Institute exists to equip listeners like you with answers
to communicate the Gospel of Hope to a world in
desperate need of life and truth. Because life and truth matter.
(26:01):
In addition to truth, we want to equip you with life,
not simply to know about God, but truly to know him.
Experiencing union with Christ enables us to live life not
merely by our own energy, but with the energy of
the Lord Jesus working powerfully through us. For more information,
(26:22):
call eight eight eight seven thousand CRII. That's eight eight
eight seven thousand CRII. You can also write CRII at
Post Office Box eighty five hundred, Charlotte, North Carolina two
eight two seven one, or just visit us online at
equip dot org. That's equip dot org. The Bible answer
(26:47):
Man Broadcast is funded by listeners like you. We're on
the air because life and truth matter. The Complete Bible
answer Book Collector's Edition is the comprehensive collection of the
most often asked questions Hank Hannigraph has received throughout his
(27:09):
four decades as host of the Bible answer Man Broadcast.
With more than half a million copies already in print,
this newly revised and expanded Collector's Edition helped seekers and
skeptics alike sort through the truth on topics such as
reliability of the Bible, religions and cults, the resurrection and afterlife,
(27:29):
and many more issues vital to a better understanding of
God in Christ and our relationship to Him. To receive
your copy of the Complete Bible answer Book Collector's Edition,
Revised and expanded, call eight eight eight seven thousand CRII
and make a gift to support the Christian Research Institute's
life changing outreaches eight eight eight seven thousand CRII or
(27:54):
visit us at EQUIP dot org.
Heard all across the United States, Canada and around the world.
This is the Bible answer Man Broadcast with Hank Annagraph.
Hank as President of the Christian Research Institute at CRI.
Our desire is to equip you not only to defend
the historic Christian faith, but to become a winsome witness
to a spiritually hungry but skeptical world, because life and
(00:31):
truth matter. To learn more or to find resources to
help you grow in grace, call eight eight eight seven
thousand CROI or go online to equip dot org. That's
equip dot org. The following program was pre recorded and
now here's Hank Canagraph.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Thank you very much, Randy. In just a word as
we get started, before we go to your calls, I
want to mention that what we do here at the
Christian Recas Sarche Institute is we prepare people's hearts. We
give them the resources so that they can be effective
tools in the hands of the Holy Spirit. But a
common mistake derives from the notion that someone can be
(01:14):
talked into the Kingdom of God. We can't do that.
The motivation may be sincere, but the consequences sometimes they're devastating.
No matter how eloquent you might or might not be,
you can't change anyone's heart. Only the Holy Spirit can
do that. So while it is your responsibility to always
be prepared to give an answer, it is only God
(01:38):
who ultimately can change the heart. The problem, of course,
is not that people cannot believe. It is that people
will not believe. In other words, it's often not a
matter of the mind, it's a matter of the will.
And that is why we say a man convinced against
his will is of the same opinionion. Still, the Christian
(02:02):
faith is reasonable, but reason alone will not compel a
person to embrace Jesus Christ. I'm utterly convinced that if
we are prepared, however, to give an answer, God will
bring into our past those whose hearts He has sovereignly prepared.
And so it is our responsibility to prepare ourselves to
be the most effective tools in the hands of Almighty God.
(02:25):
And that is what we are doing to the Christian
Research Institute. We are developing those discernment skills, becoming so
familiar with truth that when counterfeits loom on the horizon,
we know it instantaneously, and then using our well reasoned
answer as an opportunity to share the truth. A lot
of you hanging on. We'll go right to the phone lines.
(02:47):
First up is Julie. She's listening in Georgia.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Hi Julie, Hi Hank.
Speaker 4 (02:52):
It's a pleasure to talk with you. And I want
to thank you and the staff of CRI for your
service to the Body of Christ, very instrumental in my
life many times over the years.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Oh bless you.
Speaker 4 (03:06):
I have a question about attending two different churches weekly.
My daughter attends a church service on Saturday evenings and
then she attends church with us Sunday morning. And the
church that our family goes to on Sunday morning is small,
and it's a new church, and the pastor there has
(03:30):
kind of given an ultimatum saying she needs to choose
where she's going to go to church because she cannot
go to two churches and attend his church.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Well, well that's pretty radical. I mean, I think it
is true that we need to identify with a fellowship
of believers. I think that's absolutely correct. But I mean,
what an incredible blessing that your taughtter wants to go
to church such that she's attending two churches. She's part
of one church and also so fellowshipping with another church.
(04:02):
I don't see a problem with that. I would think
that that would be a great blessing that she's that
spiritually hungry and motivated to be in the House of God.
But having said that again, I think it is important
to identify with a body of believers. But I don't
see this as a problem. It as a promise.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
Okay, well that's kind of what we thought, but kind
of putting a predicament with him and didn't want to
split up our family.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
And yeah, I mean, I think what's important is that
she does become a vital, reproducing member in a church,
and that she considers that to be her church, but
to attend other services as well, to be nurtured or
blessed or edified. I mean, I don't say what could
(04:48):
possibly be wrong with that.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
Okay, all right, Well, that's very helpful.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Thank you for your call, Julie.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Blessings to you and your daughter. Back to the phone lines,
we'll talk to ro in Memphis, Tennessee. Hi, Ron, Hi,
are you all right?
Speaker 5 (05:06):
Actually I'm dealing with the same thing. On my hand,
I don't attend just one church myself and I'm dealing
with that same issue as my family. But the question
I had was, you know, because I'm going I'm going
to so many different churches, and I read the Word
of God a lot, you know, and you know consistently
(05:29):
is all of the churches, don't you know? Look at
the Ten Commandments, as you know, some of them believe
that it's it's void now. And you know, one church
in particular is saying that I was talking about the
Fourth Commandment in general, and I was trying to get
(05:52):
your opinion on all of this.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Well, I think you have to look at what the
law is designed to do. First and foremost, it is
designed to maintain order in society. But from a spiritual standpoint,
there's much more in that. It reveals sin, it becomes
the school master that driveses to Jesus Christ, and of
course it also is a guide for the believer in
living out the Christian life. So on the one hand,
(06:17):
it is right to say that the civil and ceremonial
aspects of the law have been fulfilled in Jesus Christ,
and therefore they're abrogated. In other words, you don't have
to worry about dietary laws if you eat shellfish. It's
not an abomination, Jesus says, it's not what goes into
your mouth and out through your body that defiles you,
as that which proceeds from the heart. But in saying
(06:38):
that we should not ever neglect the moral aspects of
the law as delineated in the Ten Commandments. So while
the New Testament emphasis is on grace, the law remains
a guide for living out the Christian life. I'm not
talking about legalism, but I am talking about the law,
and that law ultimately is fulfilled in the Fourth Commandment
in Jesus Christ. It's in Jesus Christ that we have
(07:01):
our sabbath rest. So we continue to honor the Lord
by an emphasis on rest for one day, work for
six days, because in Jesus Christ we have our sabbath rest.
He is the one that fulfills all the types and shadows. Therefore,
(07:21):
we see on the one hand that we shouldn't be
slavishly bound to sabbatarian laws such that if you light
a fire, someone has to kill you or stone to death.
But on the other hand, you recognize that that law
points to something Jesus Christ. It was the substance that
fulfills all the types and shadows, and that the law
(07:42):
yet becomes moral parameter for us to live out the
Christian life in a way that is pleasing to our savior.
Speaker 5 (07:50):
Okay, that's that's good, because I mean, don't get me wrong.
I pray on all of the things that I hear
and you know, so that I can get understanding. And
understanding I got was that Jesus was the law basically
in so many words. You know, not have to make
this a long conversation, but you know, and that he
(08:14):
was nailed to the cross.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Well, it is true that we're no longer subject to
legalistic prescriptions. And that's why I say the civil and
ceremonial aspects of the law. The civil aspect, which was
largely a function of a theocracy, and the ceremonial aspects
of the law, they're fulfilled in Jesus Christ. So we
(08:37):
don't have to continue with the civil and ceremonial aspects
of the law. Jesus Christ has kept the law for us.
But remember Jesus Christ said, I did not come to
abolish the law and the prophets. I came to fulfill them.
So he is the fulfillment of the law and the prophets.
He did what we could not do, But that does
not negate the fact that there are moral aspects of
(08:59):
the law that are just as efficacious today as they
were in the time of Moses. For example, thou shalt
not murder. That's something that we should obey today, just
as it should have been obeyed in the Old Testament.
Thou shalt not commit adultery. That is yet efficacious today.
(09:20):
Honor your father and mother. That's something that we should
continue to do. So the law is still a guide
for living out the Christian life.
Speaker 5 (09:29):
Right, Okay, that's that's very helpful. I was just trying
to get in a clearer picture because, you know, personally,
if I told my mom, you know, she was explaining
to me with our you know, our I go to
her church also what our preacher said, and he said,
(09:50):
you can choose any day as your sabbath, and you know,
but at the same time, did it seem strange that she,
you know, gets on me about changing, you know, my
sabbath consistently to help her do this or help her
do that. And I'm like, you know, I'm not really
I'm trying to do my best, you know, with guy's help.
(10:12):
You know, and it's not I'm not really It's like saying, Okay,
lie this time for me, you know, or you know,
go ahead and you know, cove it a little bit,
you know, this time because I need you to help
me get a job or whatever the case may be.
It's almost as if you know, I'm still I'm just
(10:33):
being subtly forced to sind.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Yeah. Well, and I think it's good that you have
a conscience there. Remember the words that you alluded to
are in scripture. Don't let anyone judge you by what
you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival,
a new moon celebration, or a Sabbath day. These are
a shadow of the things that were to come to reality. However,
(11:00):
is found in Jesus Christ.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
Be right back. The famous British apologist G. K. Chesterton
once noted, the true soldier fights not because he hates
what is in front of him, but because he loves
what is behind him. Because at CRII we love what
is behind us, our faith, our families, and our freedoms.
We will never retreat quietly from the growing assaults on
(11:23):
life and truth, even when the costs are great. We
will stand to join like minded friends in making a
difference at home and around the globe, and to equip
fellow believers to stand their ground courageously. Become a member
of CRI's support team. Simply call eight eight eight seven
thousand CRII. That's eight eight eight seven thousand CRI, or
(11:46):
visit our website at equip dot org. Stay with us.
Hank Canigraph will return in a few moments. The Complete
Bible answer Book Collector's Edition is the comprehensive collection of
the most often asked questions Hank Hannigraph has received throughout
(12:09):
his four decades as host of the Bible answer Man broadcast.
With more than half a million copies already in print,
this newly revised and expanded Collector's Edition helped seekers and
skeptics alike sort through the truth on topics such as
reliability of the Bible, religions and cults, the resurrection and afterlife,
(12:29):
and many more issues vital to a better understanding of
God in Christ and our relationship to Him. To receive
your copy of the Complete Bible answer Book Collector's Edition,
Revised and expanded, call eight eight eight seven thousand CRII
and make a gift to support the Christian Research Institute's
Life changing outreaches eight eight eight seven thousand CRII or
(12:54):
visit us at equip dot org. Anyone who's been paying
attention knows there's a war going on, not just on
traditional morality, civility, and decency, but even more fundamentally on
historic notions of truth. And the enemy isn't just the
onslaught of fake news, facilitated by a post truth culture
(13:17):
and turbocharged by growing legions of ideological spind doctors note
the real enemies of truth range from postmodernist convictions that
there is no objective truth to militant scientism that claims
that only science can determine truth and religion is little
more than primitive superstitions. But CRI Support Team members are
(13:38):
not waving a white flag of surrender. They're holding the
fort by undergirding everyone of Christian Research Institute's mind shaping
and life changing outreaches twenty four to seven. To learn
how you can make a difference and enjoy all the
benefits of Support Team membership, simply visit equip dot org.
(14:01):
An infinite God reduced to the size of a human embryo,
the creator of time, and space, invading both in human form.
Such is the mystery and the majesty of the Incarnation
Supreme being condescending to become one of us. Perhaps nothing
is more important than grasping the significance of the coming
(14:22):
God in human flesh. Without the life, death, and resurrection
of the incarnate One who walked among us, our world
would be unfathomably dark. To be equipped as a witness
and to be inspired in your walk, you'll want to
feast on Hank Hantagraph's book Incarnation, The Ultimate Self Revelation
(14:43):
of God. To receive your copy of Incarnation, simply call
eight eight eight seven thousand CURI and make a gift
to support Curi's life changing outreaches or visit equip dot
org equip dot org. Now back to the Bible answer
(15:08):
Man broadcast and your host and Canagraph.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
Thank you very much for Randy. Let's go right back
to our phone calls. Next up is Jim. He's listening
in San Antonio, Texas. Hi Jim, hell sir, how are you.
I'm well? Thank you.
Speaker 3 (15:22):
I was wondering about your point of view, your opinion
about Israel existing today and the right of the present
day Jews to occupy that land.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
Well, I have no problem for that whatsoever. I've never
expressed a problem with that. My problem is always righteousness,
injustice and equity. And therefore I don't think that we
should stand lockstep with anyone who's involved in atrocities, whether
in America or Germany, or Israel or Iran. We should
(15:58):
not be pro jew We should be pro justice. We
should not be pro Palestinian. We should be pro peace.
We are called to be the arbiters of God's justice,
love and righteousness, and those who are ambassadors who are communicating.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
The gospel interrupting, But if I might focus, because I
and I don't mean in any way to be accusatory
or belligeron but I and perhaps I misunderstood that's what
prompted might call. And I understand the eloquence in the
dietype you just issued, and that's absolutely correct. I do
agree with that. But focusing on my question is what
(16:36):
is do you feel that modern day Israel it does
belong to the modern day Jews, and they have a
right to live in the Land of Israel, and it
does belong to them, And I'm not picking a fight,
and how.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Does it belong to them. I'm trying to understand what
you're saying. How does it belong to them in what way?
Speaker 3 (16:55):
Well? I do you believe that these are the Israelite
the Jews? And do you believe that God gave it
to them?
Speaker 2 (17:03):
Well, I don't know what the question is communicating me.
And if you think that that land belongs to Israel,
do you believe in the Old Testament edict that all
the land from the River of Egypt to the Euphrates
belongs to Israel?
Speaker 3 (17:18):
Well, that's a fine technique to revert my question.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
No, No, I think this is a very important question
for me to answer your question. I'm asking if, in
fact you believe in the Old Testament boundaries, do you
believe that the northern part of Saudi Arabia and Lebanon
and part of Jordan and Iraq belonged to Israel?
Speaker 3 (17:38):
I have to with a fair, honest answer. I'll be
courteous enough to respond to yours. First, My impression is
that God never changes and what God said, whatever he said,
is the truth of God, and that is what ought
to be followed, sir, if it's in the Bible, Yes, Sir,
I believe that.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
Well, I'm really happy to hear that. So you agree
with my point of view. I mean, this is the
quintessential point of understanding for John as well as the
rest of the disciples. I mean, previously they had been
under misconceptions, like the misconceptions of modern day Christian Zionists.
They had expected Jesus to establish Jerusalem as the capital
of a sovereign Jewish empire. In fact, that notion was
(18:20):
so ingrained in their psychees that even as Jesus was
about to ascend into heaven, they asked, Lord, are you
at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel. Well,
Jesus not only corrected this erroneous thinking, but expanded their
horizons from a tiny strip of land on the east
coast of the Mediterranean Sea to the farthest reaches of
(18:42):
the world. Remember, he said, you will receive power when
the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be
my witnesses in Jerusalem and in Old Judea and Samaria,
and to the ends of the earth. In effect, Jesus
left his disciples instructions to exit Jerusalem, to embrace the earth,
(19:04):
and never again entertain the thought of establishing an earthly Jerusalem.
So I think what's important to recognize is that God's
plan became a tangible reality with respect to physical land
when Joshua led the children of Israel into Palestine. And
(19:26):
Joshua in fact exuded not one of all the good
promises the Lord your God gave to you has failed.
Every promise has been fulfilled. And of course those promises
reached their zenith under Solomon. And that's why I mentioned
the River Euphrates and the River of Egypt. But what
(19:48):
happened ultimately the land vomited out the children of the promise,
just as it has vomited out the Canaanites before them.
So God's promise to Abraham was a preliminary phase in
a promise that ultimately would extend to a royal seed,
(20:10):
Jesus Christ. Because Abraham was not just the father of
a nation, but Abram became Abraham, father of many nations,
and Abraham therefore would be heir of the world. And
the climax of the promise would not be Palestine regained,
but paradise restored. In Christ, the last Adam, God's promise
(20:35):
finds ultimate fulfillment. So if you belong to Jesus Christ,
then you are Abraham's seed and an air according to
the promise. And of course Peter finally recognizes this as well.
There's a time in which he was very diluted on
this point, and so God sends him a vision, and
(20:58):
it's a vision of unclean food. He experiences the vision
in Joppa, and only after he encountered Cornelius did he
comprehend the import of the vision. And then he said,
I now realize how true it is that God does
not show favoritism, but accepts men from every nation who
(21:21):
fear Him and do what is right. So my point
is race is of no consequence to Jesus Christ, nor
is real estate. And Jesus oriented the thinking of his
disciples therefore from a restored Jewish state to a kingdom
that knows no borders or boundaries. He said, my kingdom
(21:45):
before Pilot is not of this world. And that's why
the writer of Hebrews makes clear that the rest the
descendants of Abraham experienced when they entered the Land is
but a type of the rest we experience when we
enter an eternal relationship with the Lord. The land provided
(22:06):
temporal rest for the physical descendants of Abraham. The Lord
provides eternal rest for the spiritual descendants of Abraham. And
do remember this that the Israelites as a nation, and
again this is not a nation of race, but people
gathered together around types and shadows pointing forward to Jesus Christ.
(22:28):
And therefore Rahab a Canaanite, was true Israel, Ruth a Moabite,
was true Israel. Those that left Egypt with Israel was
true Israel. They were gathered around types and shadows pointing
ultimately to Jesus Christ. So what is going on here
(22:50):
is significant to recognize, and that is that true Israel
has always been gathered together in belief of Jesus Christ
in the Old Testament, through types and shadows in the
New through the reality the coming of Jesus Christ on
(23:13):
the Cross. So I think it's wonderful that you understand
that Canaan is the typological of renewed Cosmos. Abraham was
anything but a Zionist. Like Isaac and Jacob. He viewed
living in the Promised Land in the same way that
a stranger would view living in a foreign country. Because
of the right of Hebrews makes plain he was looking
forward to a city with foundations whose architect and builder
(23:37):
is God. And remember, the Israelites were cast out of
the land for a reason. They had become harlots. That's
the imagery of the Old Testament prophets, graphic imagery in
Jeremiah and Ezekiel, for example. So they were exiled from
the land because what God said to them is, if
(23:57):
you followed the abominable ways of the pagan nations that
were in that land before you were in the land,
that land is going to vomit you out, just as
it vomited them out. So if they were exiled in unbelief,
why in the world would God bring them back in
the land in unbelief. The point, obviously, is not that
(24:19):
Israel can't exist for geopolitical reasons. And we may be
very happy that there's a democracy in the Middle East,
and you may make all kinds of good political and
geo socioeconomic reasoning for why Israel should exist, and I
don't deny any of that, but the idea that somehow
(24:41):
or other, they have a right to the land and
therefore they can do whatever they want or be involved
in things that are displeasing to God or just in
terms of natural justice and equity and righteousness. Of course,
not none of us can do that. I can't do that,
You can't do that, people can't do that, nations can't
do that, and they certainly can't do that. And say, well,
(25:03):
you know, God gave us the title deed, we are
the sons of Abraham. Jesus said, out of these rocks,
out of these stones, I can make sons of Abraham.
And there are those who say there are Jews, but
they're not Jews. They're a synagogue. As Saint true Israel
is always those gathered around the royal seat of Abraham,
(25:23):
and Galatians makes that clear. Galatian says Abraham only had
one seed. That seat is Jesus Christ. If you are
in Christ, then you are the seed of Abraham and
an heir according to the promise. Out of here for today,
look forward to seeing you next time with more of
the show.
Speaker 1 (25:40):
Thank you for joining us for the Bible answer Man
broadcast in today's post truth culture of confusion. The Christian
Research Institute exists to equip listeners like you with answers
to communicate the Gospel of Hope to a world in
desperate need of life and truth. Because life and truth matter.
(26:01):
In addition to truth, we want to equip you with life,
not simply to know about God, but truly to know him.
Experiencing union with Christ enables us to live life not
merely by our own energy, but with the energy of
the Lord Jesus working powerfully through us. For more information,
(26:22):
call eight eight eight seven thousand CRII. That's eight eight
eight seven thousand CRII. You can also write CRII at
Post Office Box eighty five hundred, Charlotte, North Carolina two
eight two seven one, or just visit us online at
equip dot org. That's equip dot org. The Bible answer
(26:47):
Man Broadcast is funded by listeners like you. We're on
the air because life and truth matter. The Complete Bible
answer Book Collector's Edition is the comprehensive collection of the
most often asked questions Hank Hannigraph has received throughout his
(27:09):
four decades as host of the Bible answer Man Broadcast.
With more than half a million copies already in print,
this newly revised and expanded Collector's Edition helped seekers and
skeptics alike sort through the truth on topics such as
reliability of the Bible, religions and cults, the resurrection and afterlife,
(27:29):
and many more issues vital to a better understanding of
God in Christ and our relationship to Him. To receive
your copy of the Complete Bible answer Book Collector's Edition,
Revised and expanded, call eight eight eight seven thousand CRII
and make a gift to support the Christian Research Institute's
life changing outreaches eight eight eight seven thousand CRII or
(27:54):
visit us at EQUIP dot org.
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