July 16, 2024 • 28 mins
On today’s Bible Answer Man broadcast (07/16/24), Hank answers the following questions:
In Romans 7:15-20, Paul says, “the things I hate, that’s what I do.” Is Paul talking about a Christian or an unbeliever in this passage? Robert - Richmond, MO (1:15)
I’ve been listening to various teachers who say that we don’t need to worry about our sins because God has forgiven it all. What are your thoughts? Cathy - Burbank, CA (3:31)
I once heard a pastor say that if children of unbelievers who are not of the age of accountability were to die, they would go to hell. Is this true? Jeanne - Dallas, TX (8:57)
I have been reading Judges 11:30 which talks about human sacrifice. What is your take on this? Dwight - Oxnard, CA (15:12)
My husband passed away two years ago. I have realized that I am not good with being alone. What do I need to do to find a husband? Shirley - Lindon, PA (17:43)
In Romans 7:15-20, Paul says, “the things I hate, that’s what I do.” Is Paul talking about a Christian or an unbeliever in this passage? Robert - Richmond, MO (1:15)
I’ve been listening to various teachers who say that we don’t need to worry about our sins because God has forgiven it all. What are your thoughts? Cathy - Burbank, CA (3:31)
I once heard a pastor say that if children of unbelievers who are not of the age of accountability were to die, they would go to hell. Is this true? Jeanne - Dallas, TX (8:57)
I have been reading Judges 11:30 which talks about human sacrifice. What is your take on this? Dwight - Oxnard, CA (15:12)
My husband passed away two years ago. I have realized that I am not good with being alone. What do I need to do to find a husband? Shirley - Lindon, PA (17:43)
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:07):
You're just in time for the Bibleanswer Man broadcast with Hank Anagraph, the
radio outreach of the Christian Research Institute. Our purpose here at CRII is to
equip Christians to pursue sound doctrine,to discern truth and error, and to
become faithful disciples of Christ because lifeand truth matter. For more information,
(00:29):
to order resources or donate, calleight eight eight seven thousand CROI or go
online to equip dot org. Thefollowing program was pre recorded. Now here's
the President of the Christian Research Institute, Hank Canagraph. Thanks very much,
Randy, good to be in studios. We answer your questions throughout the United
(00:50):
States and Canada. Do remember ourcontact information as we begin the broadcast on
the web, ats equipped dot orgvia the mail. It's post off as
box eighty five hundred, Charlotte,North Carolina, zip code two eight two
seven one and has always resource Consultants. They're standing by the number triple eight
(01:11):
seven thousand and the letters CRI.A lot of people hanging on will go
right to the phone lines. Firstup today is Robert listening in Richmond,
Missouri. Hi Robert, Hi,mister Rage, how are you? I'm
doing good? Awesome, awesome,thought provoking. As I sit and listen
(01:32):
to the answers and questions, itmakes me think of a whole bunch more
questions. Anyway to get to thequestion Thinking about the scripture that talks about
no sacrifice for deliberate sin, Paulsays, the things I hate, that's
what I do. So Paul,is he talking about a person that's saved
when we do the things we hateto do? Well? I think what's
(01:53):
important to get in this passage isfirst and foremost that Paul is not talking
about another person, but he's talkingabout himself. And the statement that he
makes about himself is not in orderto escape the moral responsibility of his sin,
but it is a way of communicatingthe powerful lure of sin. So
(02:19):
he says, I know that nothinggood lives in me, that is in
my sinful nature. For I havethe desire to do what is good,
but I cannot carry it out.For what I do is not the good
I want to do, no theevil. I don't want to do.
This I keep on doing. Now. If I do what I do not
(02:42):
want to do, it is nolonger I who do it. But it
is sin living in me that doesit. The emphasis again intended to communicate
that this is Paul speaking of hisown life, and this is Paul's recognition
again of the powerful lure of sin. And I think that the more you
(03:02):
grow in righteousness, the more yousee the true holiness of God. It
is as though you are now illuminatedby a bright light that shows all your
inconsistencies. And I think this iscommensurate with what happens in the Old Testament
(03:22):
with Isaiah, who gets a glimpseof God's holiness and himself comes apart at
the seams. I want to goback to the phone lines. We'll talk
next to Kathy. She's listening inBurbank, California. Hi, Kathy,
Yes, I'm just curious. Iwas brought up with a Christian father and
(03:46):
mother and brought up, you know, reading the Bible and everything. And
I've had a little bit of traumain my life recently, and a lot
of my friends have told me tolisten to Flow Dollar, Joyce Meyer,
Joseph Prince, and I don't knowthey're teaching. I don't know. All
I hear is, you know,don't worry about sin. You're already forgiven.
(04:11):
And I don't know. I justfeel like they're just teaching you that
everybody's going to do it and don'teven give it a second thought, and
you know, just brush yourself offand keep on going. And I wasn't
brought up believing that. I mean, I believe God forgives you, and
but they just make it sound likeit's just an everyday occurrence, so don't
(04:34):
worry about it. I mean TDJakes, I don't know if you know
him, but I've listened to hissermons and he said, sometimes God will
break the rules in order to getyou. You know, it's so sin
is okay if that's what takes thecake. God forgot to get you out
of one situation into a better situation. And I'm I'm having issues with that
(04:58):
kind of think. Right. Well, let me say without equivocation that all
of the teachers that you have justmentioned are false teachers. I've written about
each and every one of them inmy book Christianity in Crisis twenty first century.
They are purveyors of what's called theHealth and the Wealth or the prosperity
gospel. And to them faith isa force. Words are the containers of
(05:25):
the force, and through the forceof faith, one can create their own
reality. So at the end ofthe day, the issue is not your
sin. The issue is how youcan access the riches of God, and
typically you do that through mouthing mantrasor speaking faith filled words. So at
(05:46):
its root, at its core,this is a prostitution of the Biblical idea
of faith. In Biblical theology,faith is always a channel of living trust
from an individual to their God,and as such, faith is only as
good as the object in whom itis placed. If it is faith in
our own faith, it is notwell placed faith. But it is faith
(06:11):
in our God, then it istrue faith. So they're giving you a
prostituted Christianity where Christ becomes a meansto our end as opposed to being the
end. And they're in essence teachingpeople to come to the Master's table not
for the love of the Master,but rather for what is on the Master's
(06:32):
table. A couple of things Iwant to mention as well. We did
an article in the Christian Research Journalon Joseph Prince, so it gives you
an overview on his very very defectivetheology. And then, as I said,
the other people you mentioned from Kreflodollar to some of the other teachers
that you mentioned, I've dealt withtheir theology in Christian and christis twenty first
(06:55):
century. Thank you. I feltthat in my heart and I just you
know what, I know, Godforgives you and you have to repent.
But they make it sound like everybody'sgoing to do it and it's going to
happen every day. We just putit behind you and don't think about the
past. And I don't have neverfelt comfortable with that. Well, and
there's another point here that I thinkought to be explicated, Kathy, and
(07:18):
that is when we come to faithin Christ, it's not as though we
just make mental assent to a coreset of doctrines, but it is that
we become apprentices of Jesus Christ,learners or followers disciples of Jesus Christ.
So we should ultimately say with theapostle, Paul, I follow Jesus Christ.
(07:42):
And then Paul exhorts us in turnto follow him as he follows Jesus
Christ. And that means doing thethings that Jesus Christ did, so that
we not only have everlasting life inthe end, but that we have life
abundantly in the present. That doesn'tmean an abundance of things. That means
(08:03):
that we have conformed our bodily functionsto the principles of Christ Kingdom. It
means that we have developed the innerlife where we can hear the still small
voice from within. It means thatwe have embraced frugal living while harnessing the
(08:24):
wealth of the world for the Kingdom, not just as something that we use
for our own purposes. And italso means that we learn to live all
of this out in ecclesa or inchurch life, which is to say,
we're never called as individual lone rangerbelievers, but we're always called as a
(08:45):
community of faith. Okay, thankyou so much. I felt like I
was going crazy and I thought,you know, I was struggling with this,
and thank you for clearing that upfor me. You got it.
I want to go back to thephone lines now. Talk to Jane listening
in Dallas, Texas hygiene. Yes, Hello, I am calling because I
(09:07):
want her to pastor say the childrenwho are not at the age of accountability,
even those in a wound, thatif they were to die and if
their parents are unsaved, then theywill go to hell. So is that
true. No, it's absolutely false. We have no basis to make that
(09:28):
kind of a statement. In fact, why would David rejoice after his infant
died. He rejoiced because he saidone day he would spend eternity with that
infant. So to suggest that infantswho die in the wound categorically are lost
is simply going beyond the biblical revelation. I think what we're better served to
(09:50):
do is leave infants in the handsof an infinitely just and infinitely merciful God.
God has given us enough about hisnature so that we can trust him
no matter what I mean. Thiswas ultimately the understanding of Job. Job
(10:11):
wanted to know the reason why thingshappened, even death of family members.
But in the end he was ableto say, though he's slay me,
yet, will I trust in him? And that's the principle trusting God even
when we don't understand, and trustingour infants in the hands of this infinitely
merciful and infinitely just God, sowe will know with great certainty in the
(10:35):
end that when we stand in thegreatest size with people from every tongue and
tribe and language, we will indeedrecognize that God's judgments were altogether just and
righteous, and in that we canrest with great peace. Oh well,
thank you very much, thank you, you got it, Thank you for
(10:56):
your call. Be right back injust a few moments with more answers your
questions, right here on the BibelinSpan broadcast. The famous British apologist GK.
Chesterton once noted, the true soldierfights not because he hates what is
in front of him, but becausehe loves what is behind him. Because
at CRII we love what is behindus, our faith, our families,
(11:18):
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(11:43):
eight seven thousand CRI, or visitour website at equip dot org. Stay
with us. Hank Canigraph will returnin a few moments. The Complete Bible
answer Book Collector's Edition is the comprehensivecollection of the most often asked questions Hank
(12:07):
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With more than half a million copiesalready in print, this newly revised
and expanded Collector's Edition helped seekers andskeptics alike sort through the truth on topics
such as reliability of the Bible,religions and cults, the resurrection and afterlife,
(12:28):
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a gift to support the Christian ResearchInstitute's life changing outreaches eight eight eight seven
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(14:01):
Truth Matters, Life Matters More byHank Hannigraph is essentially two books in one
because Truth Matters Part one equips Christiansto defend the essential truth of the historic
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we can experience the height of humanexistence union with God in Christ. Simply
(14:22):
put, the map is not theterritory. The menu is not the meal.
We cheat ourselves of authentic union withChrist when we elevate the message above
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Truth Matters, Life Matters More,simply call eight eight eight seven thousand CRI
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Institute. That's eight eight eight seventhousand CRI. Or go online to equip
dot org. Let's return to yourhost, Henk Catagraph. Thank you,
(15:09):
watch for Andy, and let's goback to the phone lines. We'll talk
to Dwight. He's listening in Oxnard, California. Hi, Dwight, Hi,
heyeh. Question Judges, Chapter eleven, verse thirty human sacrifice, and
I just want to know your takeon that. Well, this isn't human
(15:30):
sacrifice at all. In fact,if you read the entire passage, you'll
find that in the end, whatJephsa's daughter was morning is that she would
never marry. And after two months, the text tells us, she returned
to her father, and he didto her as he had vowed, and
she was a virgin. So again, verse thirty eight makes it clear that
(15:52):
Jephsus's daughter did not go out andmourn her impending death, but rather her
perpetual virginity. Remember, Jepha wasa judge and was not to practice the
detestable ways of the pagan nation,such as sacrificing humans in the fire.
The moment a judge or a kingdid something like that. They were anathema,
(16:18):
as you see with AHAs for examplein Two Kings, chapter thirteen.
And God would not accept a humansacrifice. So offering a daughter to perpetual
virginity and temple service becomes the moralequivalent of that in terms of the vow.
That's what I was more or lessthinking. But I just wanted to
future clarification on that. Well,you got it. And again, as
(16:41):
I said, Jephtha was not offeringhuman sacrifice to the Lord, and that
he would not have compounded one evil, which is the breaking of an oath
by a greater evil, the sinof human sacrifice. His daughter was off
not as a dead sacrifice, butas a living sacrifice, and that for
(17:04):
the rest of her life she wouldbe a virgin, and not to bring
children into the world to continue thelineage of her father would have been indeed
a tremendous sacrifice. So again thisdoes not have to do with human sacrifice
forbidden called a testable practice of thepagan nations. That Israel was called to
(17:27):
be a light too, And tothe extent that Israel participated in those practices,
she was no longer a light,but rather had become a prostitute,
as many of the prophets talk aboutand describe Israel as becoming. I want
to go back to the phone lines. We'll talk next to Shirley. She's
listening in Lynden, Pennsylvania. HiShirley, Hi Hank, how are you.
(17:51):
I'm good. I'm calling. Myhusband passed away two years ago from
a car accident. He went veryquickly in two days. And my husband
and I put the Lord first beforeeach other in our marriage. We served
the Lord. We loved him,and I love him with all my heart
(18:12):
and I do everything to walk inGod's perfect will. What I'm calling about
is I realize that I'm not goodalone. I'm not good walking alone here,
even though I have the Lord firstin my life and I'm serving him.
(18:32):
I feel like Bruce felt, andyou know, I am I doing
something? Or what do I needto do to find a husband or to
receive a husband, or is itup to the Lord. I ask for
God's perfect will in my life.There's been a lot of anxiety in a
(18:55):
house with three acres of land alot, and my children are grown and
product and they're not near me,so I'm very much alone, and I
really truly, I'm delighting myself andthe Lord and asking him to give me
the desires of my heart. Butdo I need to do something more than
just sit here and be idle andwait for someone to come? What do
(19:21):
I do? Well, Shirley?Let me pray for you. Father,
Thank you so much for this divineopportunity to talk to Shirley. And Lord,
we are even now exhibiting our dependenceon you, the fact that you
are our heavenly father, that youcare for every single need in our life.
(19:44):
And Lord, I pray that youwould be the balm of Gilead and
Shirley's life as she deals with thehole in her heart and having lost her
husband, and even now she dealswith the tragedy of a loneeness. Oh
Lord, I pray that you willbring people and circumstances into her life so
(20:06):
that her life might be full overflowing. And Lord, I pray during this
time of loneliness that she will findfulfillment and fellowship in community with the very
one who knit her together in hermother's womb. Oh Lord, become more
(20:27):
real to surely than the very fleshupon her bones. Lord, I pray
that she might become fulfilled within thecommunity of saints, within church life,
where she experiences you in fellowship withothers. And Lord, if it be
(20:49):
your will, I pray that youdo bring someone into her life so that
she can be completed again in companionship. Lord, we pray that in the
meantime, that she will exercise allof those disciplines that allow us to become
apprentices of Jesus Christ. That shemight take this time of solitude and silence
(21:15):
is a way of fasting from theworld and feasting on You. I pray
Lord, that she might meditate uponthe Word of God as the missing link
between the intake of scripture and aneffective prayer life. Oh Lord Jesus,
touch her life and bring those thingsinto her life that you have ordained for
(21:37):
her. But Lord, let herknow above all that there's not a single
hair that falls from her head evenat this very moment, that you're not
aware of that you love her infinitely. We pray all of this, not
by might nor by power, butby your spirit in the name of our
Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.Amen. Surely you know what I'd like
(22:02):
you to do. I'd love foryou to get out a Bible and to
meditate on Psalm one thirty nine.Oh I know that, Yes, I
have meditated on that. Yes,okay, just meditate on that passage and
just let it become part of thewarp and woof of who you are,
(22:22):
and even personalize it. Oh Lord, you have searched me. You know
me. You know when I sit, when I rise, You perceive my
thoughts from afar. You discern mygoing out and my lying down. You
are familiar with all my ways beforea word is on my tongue. You
(22:45):
know it completely. Oh Lord,you hem me in behind and before you
have laid your hand upon me.Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.Sometimes, just take a phrase and go
over and over again that phrase.Where can I go from your spirit?
(23:07):
Where can I flee from your presence? If I'm to go up to the
heavens while you're there, if Imake my bed in the depths, you're
there too. So personalize this andpray it over and over again, and
recognize that you are truly never alone. If you are a child of the
(23:30):
King, the King ngwells you.And greater is he that is in you
than he that is in the world. You have a companion who sticks closer
than the best of human friends.That's not to say that your pain and
your hurt are not real. Theyare real. They are difficult, but
(23:51):
life surely is difficult, and Christianitynever gives us the promise of a panacea.
What gives us is the assurance thatwe can have peace in the midst
of life storms. So you're goingto have difficult times, but there's an
overriding piece that comes when you fillyourself with the presence of the Almighty God.
(24:14):
So I'm doing the right things.I've been in the Word constantly,
just in crying out for His perfectwill in my life. Yes, yes,
you are. He's four years old. I was saved when I was
thirteen, and I know the Word, and yet he's become so much more
real to me since this has happened, and I want to share that.
(24:37):
I don't want to be an idleperson. I want to share the Lord
with everyone I come in contact with. Well, surely you are a beautiful
woman, I'm sure inside and out. And you remind me a lot of
my mother. When my dad diedin nineteen ninety seven, she was left
with a huge hole in her heart. And that's why I can empathize with
(24:57):
what you're going through vicariously through thelife of my mother, who shares with
me daily how difficult it was forher, and she chose to remain a
widow because she said that my dadwas the only guy for her and she
is not going to look anywhere else. But that doesn't mean that's the decision
for you. But what I'm sayingis that I can empathize with the very
(25:18):
difficult circumstance that you're in to somedegree. Again, my mother had to
find peace in the same way thatyou're going to find peace, and that
is with companionship through Jesus Christ.I pray that meditating upon one thirty nine
will be the balm of Gilead inyour life, and that God will move
through people and through circumstances to fillthe void with human companionship as well.
(25:45):
Thanks for your call, You'll remainin our prayers. Do remember if you
can contact us on the web andfind answers to your questions. At equipped
dot org. You can find resourcesthat I talk about on the broadcast.
You can also write me at Boxfive hundred, Charlotte, North Carolina.
Zip go two eight two seven one, or call our resource consultants triple eight
(26:06):
seven thousand and the letters CRI.Thanks for tuning in. We see you
next time with more of the broadcast. Thank you for joining us today.
Our mission at the Christian Research Instituteis to defend the faith, answer Bible
questions and encourage Christians to watch theirlife and doctrine closely. To find resources
to help equip you, go toequip dot org. That's equip dot org,
(26:33):
or call us at eight eight eightseven thousand, CRII. You can
also write CRI at Post Office Boxeighty five hundred, Charlotte, North Carolina,
two eight two seven one. TheBible answer Man Broadcast is supported by
listeners like you. We're on theair because life and truth matter to The
(27:00):
Complete Bible answer Book Collector's Edition isthe comprehensive collection of the most often asked
questions Hank Hannigraph has received throughout hisfour decades as host of the Bible answer
Man Broadcast. With more than halfa million copies already in print, this
newly revised and expanded Collector's Edition helpedseekers and skeptics alike sort through the truth
(27:22):
on topics such as reliability of theBible, religions and cults, the resurrection
and afterlife, and many more issuesvital 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 andexpanded, call eight eight eight seven thousand
(27:45):
CRII and make a gift to supportthe Christian Research Institute's life changing outreaches eight
eight eight seven thousand CRII or visitus at EQUIP dot org.
You're just in time for the Bibleanswer Man broadcast with Hank Anagraph, the
radio outreach of the Christian Research Institute. Our purpose here at CRII is to
equip Christians to pursue sound doctrine,to discern truth and error, and to
become faithful disciples of Christ because lifeand truth matter. For more information,
(00:29):
to order resources or donate, calleight eight eight seven thousand CROI or go
online to equip dot org. Thefollowing program was pre recorded. Now here's
the President of the Christian Research Institute, Hank Canagraph. Thanks very much,
Randy, good to be in studios. We answer your questions throughout the United
(00:50):
States and Canada. Do remember ourcontact information as we begin the broadcast on
the web, ats equipped dot orgvia the mail. It's post off as
box eighty five hundred, Charlotte,North Carolina, zip code two eight two
seven one and has always resource Consultants. They're standing by the number triple eight
(01:11):
seven thousand and the letters CRI.A lot of people hanging on will go
right to the phone lines. Firstup today is Robert listening in Richmond,
Missouri. Hi Robert, Hi,mister Rage, how are you? I'm
doing good? Awesome, awesome,thought provoking. As I sit and listen
(01:32):
to the answers and questions, itmakes me think of a whole bunch more
questions. Anyway to get to thequestion Thinking about the scripture that talks about
no sacrifice for deliberate sin, Paulsays, the things I hate, that's
what I do. So Paul,is he talking about a person that's saved
when we do the things we hateto do? Well? I think what's
(01:53):
important to get in this passage isfirst and foremost that Paul is not talking
about another person, but he's talkingabout himself. And the statement that he
makes about himself is not in orderto escape the moral responsibility of his sin,
but it is a way of communicatingthe powerful lure of sin. So
(02:19):
he says, I know that nothinggood lives in me, that is in
my sinful nature. For I havethe desire to do what is good,
but I cannot carry it out.For what I do is not the good
I want to do, no theevil. I don't want to do.
This I keep on doing. Now. If I do what I do not
(02:42):
want to do, it is nolonger I who do it. But it
is sin living in me that doesit. The emphasis again intended to communicate
that this is Paul speaking of hisown life, and this is Paul's recognition
again of the powerful lure of sin. And I think that the more you
(03:02):
grow in righteousness, the more yousee the true holiness of God. It
is as though you are now illuminatedby a bright light that shows all your
inconsistencies. And I think this iscommensurate with what happens in the Old Testament
(03:22):
with Isaiah, who gets a glimpseof God's holiness and himself comes apart at
the seams. I want to goback to the phone lines. We'll talk
next to Kathy. She's listening inBurbank, California. Hi, Kathy,
Yes, I'm just curious. Iwas brought up with a Christian father and
(03:46):
mother and brought up, you know, reading the Bible and everything. And
I've had a little bit of traumain my life recently, and a lot
of my friends have told me tolisten to Flow Dollar, Joyce Meyer,
Joseph Prince, and I don't knowthey're teaching. I don't know. All
I hear is, you know,don't worry about sin. You're already forgiven.
(04:11):
And I don't know. I justfeel like they're just teaching you that
everybody's going to do it and don'teven give it a second thought, and
you know, just brush yourself offand keep on going. And I wasn't
brought up believing that. I mean, I believe God forgives you, and
but they just make it sound likeit's just an everyday occurrence, so don't
(04:34):
worry about it. I mean TDJakes, I don't know if you know
him, but I've listened to hissermons and he said, sometimes God will
break the rules in order to getyou. You know, it's so sin
is okay if that's what takes thecake. God forgot to get you out
of one situation into a better situation. And I'm I'm having issues with that
(04:58):
kind of think. Right. Well, let me say without equivocation that all
of the teachers that you have justmentioned are false teachers. I've written about
each and every one of them inmy book Christianity in Crisis twenty first century.
They are purveyors of what's called theHealth and the Wealth or the prosperity
gospel. And to them faith isa force. Words are the containers of
(05:25):
the force, and through the forceof faith, one can create their own
reality. So at the end ofthe day, the issue is not your
sin. The issue is how youcan access the riches of God, and
typically you do that through mouthing mantrasor speaking faith filled words. So at
(05:46):
its root, at its core,this is a prostitution of the Biblical idea
of faith. In Biblical theology,faith is always a channel of living trust
from an individual to their God,and as such, faith is only as
good as the object in whom itis placed. If it is faith in
our own faith, it is notwell placed faith. But it is faith
(06:11):
in our God, then it istrue faith. So they're giving you a
prostituted Christianity where Christ becomes a meansto our end as opposed to being the
end. And they're in essence teachingpeople to come to the Master's table not
for the love of the Master,but rather for what is on the Master's
(06:32):
table. A couple of things Iwant to mention as well. We did
an article in the Christian Research Journalon Joseph Prince, so it gives you
an overview on his very very defectivetheology. And then, as I said,
the other people you mentioned from Kreflodollar to some of the other teachers
that you mentioned, I've dealt withtheir theology in Christian and christis twenty first
(06:55):
century. Thank you. I feltthat in my heart and I just you
know what, I know, Godforgives you and you have to repent.
But they make it sound like everybody'sgoing to do it and it's going to
happen every day. We just putit behind you and don't think about the
past. And I don't have neverfelt comfortable with that. Well, and
there's another point here that I thinkought to be explicated, Kathy, and
(07:18):
that is when we come to faithin Christ, it's not as though we
just make mental assent to a coreset of doctrines, but it is that
we become apprentices of Jesus Christ,learners or followers disciples of Jesus Christ.
So we should ultimately say with theapostle, Paul, I follow Jesus Christ.
(07:42):
And then Paul exhorts us in turnto follow him as he follows Jesus
Christ. And that means doing thethings that Jesus Christ did, so that
we not only have everlasting life inthe end, but that we have life
abundantly in the present. That doesn'tmean an abundance of things. That means
(08:03):
that we have conformed our bodily functionsto the principles of Christ Kingdom. It
means that we have developed the innerlife where we can hear the still small
voice from within. It means thatwe have embraced frugal living while harnessing the
(08:24):
wealth of the world for the Kingdom, not just as something that we use
for our own purposes. And italso means that we learn to live all
of this out in ecclesa or inchurch life, which is to say,
we're never called as individual lone rangerbelievers, but we're always called as a
(08:45):
community of faith. Okay, thankyou so much. I felt like I
was going crazy and I thought,you know, I was struggling with this,
and thank you for clearing that upfor me. You got it.
I want to go back to thephone lines now. Talk to Jane listening
in Dallas, Texas hygiene. Yes, Hello, I am calling because I
(09:07):
want her to pastor say the childrenwho are not at the age of accountability,
even those in a wound, thatif they were to die and if
their parents are unsaved, then theywill go to hell. So is that
true. No, it's absolutely false. We have no basis to make that
(09:28):
kind of a statement. In fact, why would David rejoice after his infant
died. He rejoiced because he saidone day he would spend eternity with that
infant. So to suggest that infantswho die in the wound categorically are lost
is simply going beyond the biblical revelation. I think what we're better served to
(09:50):
do is leave infants in the handsof an infinitely just and infinitely merciful God.
God has given us enough about hisnature so that we can trust him
no matter what I mean. Thiswas ultimately the understanding of Job. Job
(10:11):
wanted to know the reason why thingshappened, even death of family members.
But in the end he was ableto say, though he's slay me,
yet, will I trust in him? And that's the principle trusting God even
when we don't understand, and trustingour infants in the hands of this infinitely
merciful and infinitely just God, sowe will know with great certainty in the
(10:35):
end that when we stand in thegreatest size with people from every tongue and
tribe and language, we will indeedrecognize that God's judgments were altogether just and
righteous, and in that we canrest with great peace. Oh well,
thank you very much, thank you, you got it, Thank you for
(10:56):
your call. Be right back injust a few moments with more answers your
questions, right here on the BibelinSpan broadcast. The famous British apologist GK.
Chesterton once noted, the true soldierfights not because he hates what is
in front of him, but becausehe loves what is behind him. Because
at CRII we love what is behindus, our faith, our families,
(11:18):
and our freedoms. We will neverretreat quietly from the growing assaults on life
and truth, even when the costsare great. We will stand to join
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support team. Simply call eight eighteight seven thousand CRII. That's eight eight
(11:43):
eight seven thousand CRI, or visitour website at equip dot org. Stay
with us. Hank Canigraph will returnin a few moments. The Complete Bible
answer Book Collector's Edition is the comprehensivecollection of the most often asked questions Hank
(12:07):
Hannigraph has received throughout his four decadesas host of the Bible answer Man broadcast.
With more than half a million copiesalready in print, this newly revised
and expanded Collector's Edition helped seekers andskeptics alike sort through the truth on topics
such as reliability of the Bible,religions and cults, the resurrection and afterlife,
(12:28):
and many more issues vital to abetter understanding of God in Christ and
our relationship to Him. To receiveyour copy of the Complete Bible answer Book
Collector's Edition Revised and Expanded, calleight eight eight seven thousand CRII and make
a gift to support the Christian ResearchInstitute's life changing outreaches eight eight eight seven
(12:52):
thousand CRII or visit us at equipdot org. Bertrand Russell famously said most
people would rather die than think,and many of them do not so with
CRI Support Team members. Support Teammembers are not only serious thinkers, but
(13:13):
their membership and CRI's support Team helpsto equip hundreds of thousands of fellow believers
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missing out. Not only do SupportTeam members form the backbone of Christian Research
Institute's outreaches, but they enjoy theirselection of resources from our Equipping Essentials library
(13:37):
to discover how you can make adifference twenty four to seven and equipping believers
at home and abroad to stand forlife and truth. Check out the benefits
of membership at equip dot org.Once again, that's equip dot org.
(14:01):
Truth Matters, Life Matters More byHank Hannigraph is essentially two books in one
because Truth Matters Part one equips Christiansto defend the essential truth of the historic
Christian faith. In Part two,Hank explains why life matters more and how
we can experience the height of humanexistence union with God in Christ. Simply
(14:22):
put, the map is not theterritory. The menu is not the meal.
We cheat ourselves of authentic union withChrist when we elevate the message above
the Messiah. Truth Matters, LifeMatters More is a modern classic and the
magnum opus of one of the greattheological minds of our time. To receive
Truth Matters, Life Matters More,simply call eight eight eight seven thousand CRI
(14:46):
and make a gift in support ofthe life changing work of the Christian Research
Institute. That's eight eight eight seventhousand CRI. Or go online to equip
dot org. Let's return to yourhost, Henk Catagraph. Thank you,
(15:09):
watch for Andy, and let's goback to the phone lines. We'll talk
to Dwight. He's listening in Oxnard, California. Hi, Dwight, Hi,
heyeh. Question Judges, Chapter eleven, verse thirty human sacrifice, and
I just want to know your takeon that. Well, this isn't human
(15:30):
sacrifice at all. In fact,if you read the entire passage, you'll
find that in the end, whatJephsa's daughter was morning is that she would
never marry. And after two months, the text tells us, she returned
to her father, and he didto her as he had vowed, and
she was a virgin. So again, verse thirty eight makes it clear that
(15:52):
Jephsus's daughter did not go out andmourn her impending death, but rather her
perpetual virginity. Remember, Jepha wasa judge and was not to practice the
detestable ways of the pagan nation,such as sacrificing humans in the fire.
The moment a judge or a kingdid something like that. They were anathema,
(16:18):
as you see with AHAs for examplein Two Kings, chapter thirteen.
And God would not accept a humansacrifice. So offering a daughter to perpetual
virginity and temple service becomes the moralequivalent of that in terms of the vow.
That's what I was more or lessthinking. But I just wanted to
future clarification on that. Well,you got it. And again, as
(16:41):
I said, Jephtha was not offeringhuman sacrifice to the Lord, and that
he would not have compounded one evil, which is the breaking of an oath
by a greater evil, the sinof human sacrifice. His daughter was off
not as a dead sacrifice, butas a living sacrifice, and that for
(17:04):
the rest of her life she wouldbe a virgin, and not to bring
children into the world to continue thelineage of her father would have been indeed
a tremendous sacrifice. So again thisdoes not have to do with human sacrifice
forbidden called a testable practice of thepagan nations. That Israel was called to
(17:27):
be a light too, And tothe extent that Israel participated in those practices,
she was no longer a light,but rather had become a prostitute,
as many of the prophets talk aboutand describe Israel as becoming. I want
to go back to the phone lines. We'll talk next to Shirley. She's
listening in Lynden, Pennsylvania. HiShirley, Hi Hank, how are you.
(17:51):
I'm good. I'm calling. Myhusband passed away two years ago from
a car accident. He went veryquickly in two days. And my husband
and I put the Lord first beforeeach other in our marriage. We served
the Lord. We loved him,and I love him with all my heart
(18:12):
and I do everything to walk inGod's perfect will. What I'm calling about
is I realize that I'm not goodalone. I'm not good walking alone here,
even though I have the Lord firstin my life and I'm serving him.
(18:32):
I feel like Bruce felt, andyou know, I am I doing
something? Or what do I needto do to find a husband or to
receive a husband, or is itup to the Lord. I ask for
God's perfect will in my life.There's been a lot of anxiety in a
(18:55):
house with three acres of land alot, and my children are grown and
product and they're not near me,so I'm very much alone, and I
really truly, I'm delighting myself andthe Lord and asking him to give me
the desires of my heart. Butdo I need to do something more than
just sit here and be idle andwait for someone to come? What do
(19:21):
I do? Well, Shirley?Let me pray for you. Father,
Thank you so much for this divineopportunity to talk to Shirley. And Lord,
we are even now exhibiting our dependenceon you, the fact that you
are our heavenly father, that youcare for every single need in our life.
(19:44):
And Lord, I pray that youwould be the balm of Gilead and
Shirley's life as she deals with thehole in her heart and having lost her
husband, and even now she dealswith the tragedy of a loneeness. Oh
Lord, I pray that you willbring people and circumstances into her life so
(20:06):
that her life might be full overflowing. And Lord, I pray during this
time of loneliness that she will findfulfillment and fellowship in community with the very
one who knit her together in hermother's womb. Oh Lord, become more
(20:27):
real to surely than the very fleshupon her bones. Lord, I pray
that she might become fulfilled within thecommunity of saints, within church life,
where she experiences you in fellowship withothers. And Lord, if it be
(20:49):
your will, I pray that youdo bring someone into her life so that
she can be completed again in companionship. Lord, we pray that in the
meantime, that she will exercise allof those disciplines that allow us to become
apprentices of Jesus Christ. That shemight take this time of solitude and silence
(21:15):
is a way of fasting from theworld and feasting on You. I pray
Lord, that she might meditate uponthe Word of God as the missing link
between the intake of scripture and aneffective prayer life. Oh Lord Jesus,
touch her life and bring those thingsinto her life that you have ordained for
(21:37):
her. But Lord, let herknow above all that there's not a single
hair that falls from her head evenat this very moment, that you're not
aware of that you love her infinitely. We pray all of this, not
by might nor by power, butby your spirit in the name of our
Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.Amen. Surely you know what I'd like
(22:02):
you to do. I'd love foryou to get out a Bible and to
meditate on Psalm one thirty nine.Oh I know that, Yes, I
have meditated on that. Yes,okay, just meditate on that passage and
just let it become part of thewarp and woof of who you are,
(22:22):
and even personalize it. Oh Lord, you have searched me. You know
me. You know when I sit, when I rise, You perceive my
thoughts from afar. You discern mygoing out and my lying down. You
are familiar with all my ways beforea word is on my tongue. You
(22:45):
know it completely. Oh Lord,you hem me in behind and before you
have laid your hand upon me.Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.Sometimes, just take a phrase and go
over and over again that phrase.Where can I go from your spirit?
(23:07):
Where can I flee from your presence? If I'm to go up to the
heavens while you're there, if Imake my bed in the depths, you're
there too. So personalize this andpray it over and over again, and
recognize that you are truly never alone. If you are a child of the
(23:30):
King, the King ngwells you.And greater is he that is in you
than he that is in the world. You have a companion who sticks closer
than the best of human friends.That's not to say that your pain and
your hurt are not real. Theyare real. They are difficult, but
(23:51):
life surely is difficult, and Christianitynever gives us the promise of a panacea.
What gives us is the assurance thatwe can have peace in the midst
of life storms. So you're goingto have difficult times, but there's an
overriding piece that comes when you fillyourself with the presence of the Almighty God.
(24:14):
So I'm doing the right things.I've been in the Word constantly,
just in crying out for His perfectwill in my life. Yes, yes,
you are. He's four years old. I was saved when I was
thirteen, and I know the Word, and yet he's become so much more
real to me since this has happened, and I want to share that.
(24:37):
I don't want to be an idleperson. I want to share the Lord
with everyone I come in contact with. Well, surely you are a beautiful
woman, I'm sure inside and out. And you remind me a lot of
my mother. When my dad diedin nineteen ninety seven, she was left
with a huge hole in her heart. And that's why I can empathize with
(24:57):
what you're going through vicariously through thelife of my mother, who shares with
me daily how difficult it was forher, and she chose to remain a
widow because she said that my dadwas the only guy for her and she
is not going to look anywhere else. But that doesn't mean that's the decision
for you. But what I'm sayingis that I can empathize with the very
(25:18):
difficult circumstance that you're in to somedegree. Again, my mother had to
find peace in the same way thatyou're going to find peace, and that
is with companionship through Jesus Christ.I pray that meditating upon one thirty nine
will be the balm of Gilead inyour life, and that God will move
through people and through circumstances to fillthe void with human companionship as well.
(25:45):
Thanks for your call, You'll remainin our prayers. Do remember if you
can contact us on the web andfind answers to your questions. At equipped
dot org. You can find resourcesthat I talk about on the broadcast.
You can also write me at Boxfive hundred, Charlotte, North Carolina.
Zip go two eight two seven one, or call our resource consultants triple eight
(26:06):
seven thousand and the letters CRI.Thanks for tuning in. We see you
next time with more of the broadcast. Thank you for joining us today.
Our mission at the Christian Research Instituteis to defend the faith, answer Bible
questions and encourage Christians to watch theirlife and doctrine closely. To find resources
to help equip you, go toequip dot org. That's equip dot org,
(26:33):
or call us at eight eight eightseven thousand, CRII. You can
also write CRI at Post Office Boxeighty five hundred, Charlotte, North Carolina,
two eight two seven one. TheBible answer Man Broadcast is supported by
listeners like you. We're on theair because life and truth matter to The
(27:00):
Complete Bible answer Book Collector's Edition isthe comprehensive collection of the most often asked
questions Hank Hannigraph has received throughout hisfour decades as host of the Bible answer
Man Broadcast. With more than halfa million copies already in print, this
newly revised and expanded Collector's Edition helpedseekers and skeptics alike sort through the truth
(27:22):
on topics such as reliability of theBible, religions and cults, the resurrection
and afterlife, and many more issuesvital 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 andexpanded, call eight eight eight seven thousand
(27:45):
CRII and make a gift to supportthe Christian Research Institute's life changing outreaches eight
eight eight seven thousand CRII or visitus at EQUIP dot org.
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