S1: Hello, friends. It's time for the second hour of Open
S1: Line with Doctor Michael Ray Moody Radio's Bible Study Across America.
S1: We're talking about your questions about the Bible, God and
S1: the spiritual life. My name is Michael Ray. I'm the
S1: academic dean. I'm the a professor of Jewish studies and
S1: Bible at Moody Bible Institute. We're live today. We're sitting
S1: around the radio kitchen table taking your questions. Time to
S1: give me a call right now. (877) 548-3675. That's (877) 548-3675. Remember,
S1: if you can't call, you can always post your question.
S1: What you do is go to open Line radio.org. Click
S1: on the link that says Ask Michael a question. And
S1: when you click on that a page will come up
S1: where you can fill out the form and put your
S1: question there. Trish will add it to the mailbag for
S1: a coming week, and you can listen in and hear
S1: me answer your question later on. I hope you have
S1: a second cup of coffee. I'm waiting for mine. I'm
S1: going to get one in a minute. I hope you do,
S1: because along with your Bibles open, we're ready to talk
S1: about the scriptures and we're going to talk with, you know,
S1: before we talk to Galen, I do want to mention this, uh,
S1: you know, this is a time when people are kind
S1: of making their final decisions for where their kids are
S1: going to go to college in the fall, where their
S1: grandkids are going. Kids are checking out places. Uh, I'd
S1: like to encourage you to tell them to check out
S1: Moody Bible Institute. We've got two experienced, Moody Fridays coming
S1: up where you can come in and experience all that
S1: Moody has to offer. Uh, it's April 25th and May 2nd.
S1: I did want to mention that, uh, I am so
S1: grateful to God I went to Moody. Uh, it gave
S1: me a great foundation for life. Uh, it gave me
S1: a great foundation for ministry. But a lot of people think, oh,
S1: but I'm not going into vocational ministry. Let me tell you,
S1: we're all going into ministry. If we love Jesus, we
S1: have to serve him, and we're all going to serve
S1: him for life. And Moody gives you a great foundation,
S1: whether you're doing it as part of your vocation or
S1: whether you're serving him in your local congregation or as
S1: a volunteer in a different ministry. We're all going to
S1: serve him. And so, uh, Moody gives you a great foundation.
S1: I have friends who have been really committed servants of
S1: the Lord who serve not only the Lord, but work
S1: as attorneys, as bank presidents, as, uh, they are bankers.
S1: They've worked as teachers in secular schools. They've done all
S1: these things, and they all say that the foundation they
S1: got at Moody Bible Institute changed their life for the better.
S1: So check out, Moody. Go to Moody and you can
S1: sign up for experience Moody. Encourage your kids or grandkids
S1: to check it out. So and if you're listening and you're, uh,
S1: considering it, you check it out, too. Uh, we're going
S1: to talk to Galen in Ohio, listening on CRF. Welcome
S1: to Openline, Galen. How can I help you today? Or
S1: did he just hang up? I think he just went away.
S1: Just missed out. He couldn't. Wait another minute. There we go. Uh,
S1: we're going to talk to Paul in big water, Utah.
S1: What a great name. Listening on KP. Uh, welcome to
S1: Open Line. Paul. How can I help you?
S2: Well, thank you, David, for taking my call. Appreciate it.
S1: Well, David, who are we talking to?
S2: I'm sorry. Michael. Thank you, thank you.
S1: Okay, Fred. There we go. No. Paul. Paul.
S2: Paul. Okay. My question. Um, did any of the people
S2: that came dwelt with after he killed Abel descend to
S2: any of the 12 tribes of Israel? And where are
S2: those people today?
S1: Well, everyone died in the flood. You remember that, right?
S1: There was a universal flood. So the way we ultimately
S1: got the tribes of Israel is, if you look at
S1: the genealogy, genealogy, however you say it of, uh, of
S1: Seth in chapter five, uh, you see the genealogy of Seth,
S1: and it comes down to verse, uh, 32. Noah was
S1: 500 years old, and he fathered Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
S1: So everyone that lived after the flood descended from either Shem,
S1: Ham and Japheth, and, uh. And none of them, none
S1: of those three actually descended from Cain. They all came
S1: from the line of Seth, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And
S1: then if you keep reading that, you'll find that when
S1: you see the further genealogy, the the genealogy of Shem, uh,
S1: leads to it says in chapter ten, verse 21. And Shem,
S1: Japheth's older brother, also had son. Shem was the father
S1: of all the sons of Eber. Shem sons were Elam, Asher, Arpachshad, Lud,
S1: and Aram. And then it starts talking about them. And uh,
S1: ultimately when you go through all these, uh, in verse 25,
S1: it says, uh, Eber, that's one of the sons of
S1: Shem had two sons. One was named Peleg, for during
S1: his days the earth was divided. His brother was named Joktan.
S1: And it is from, uh, that line, uh, that we get, uh,
S1: shem's sons. And of course, out of Shem's sons comes Terah,
S1: which leads to Abraham, which leads to the 12 tribes.
S1: That's what you've got. So, uh, so that's. And you
S1: can see that in chapter. 11, verse 16. Eber lived
S1: 34 years, fathered Peleg, and it gives his line all
S1: the way down to Abraham. Okay. So none of the
S1: the sons of Cain are not part of the people
S1: of Israel or anyone around them.
S2: Okay.
S1: Okay. Um, that's probably more detailed. I probably should have
S1: put a chart up with all the genealogies in the
S1: Book of Genesis, but it's there in the Bible. We
S1: should know it. Okay.
S2: Well, thank you very much. Have a great day.
S1: Yep. Uh, we're going to talk with Dave, uh, in Holland, Michigan,
S1: listening on WGN. Welcome to Open Line, Dave. How can
S1: I help you?
S3: Thank you very much, sir. I appreciate you taking my call. Sure.
S3: My question is, I have a friend of mine who's
S3: recently become convinced that we should be following all the
S3: food laws, all the feast laws of the Mosaic Law,
S3: and if not actually out of obligation, that at the
S3: very least, it is going to be one of the things,
S3: whether we follow or do not follow will be used
S3: to consider what our level of reward would be in heaven.
S3: I'm just curious about the whole relationship with the original law,
S3: and obviously you're in a specific position to know all
S3: about that.
S1: Well, let me let me just say about, uh, that
S1: we're we're under a law. We're not without law. But
S1: the New Testament calls it the law of Messiah. It
S1: doesn't call it the Law of Moses any longer. It
S1: calls it the law of Messiah. If you go back
S1: to Judaism, Judaism even said when the Messiah came, he
S1: would establish a new law, not like the Mosaic law.
S1: I think that's important for us to remember that the
S1: idea would would come about like that. Uh, in fact,
S1: what the Hebrew Bible says in Jeremiah 31, I will
S1: give you a new covenant, not like the covenant I
S1: made when I brought you out of Egypt, the covenant
S1: I gave through the mosaic covenant. Not like the covenant
S1: I gave you when you came out of Egypt. Uh,
S1: but a new covenant. I'll place my law in your
S1: inward parts as well. So. It's pretty clear to me
S1: that we're under the New Covenant, not the Old covenant
S1: in the New Testament. Now, obviously the whole Bible is
S1: our authority, but we have to look at the the
S1: laws of the Torah as wisdom. Now, another thing is
S1: pretty clear from acts 15 and from earlier parts, that
S1: Jewish believers who want to can keep Torah. That's you know,
S1: you know, you see Paul in the book of acts,
S1: you know, I've done nothing against the customs of our fathers,
S1: he says. Uh, he he always identifies. First Corinthians nine.
S1: He says to the Jews, I became as a Jew, uh,
S1: to as those to those under the law. As when
S1: under the law. Right. So, so, um, you know, I
S1: think that would be true for anyone that out of liberty,
S1: out of significance, out of meaning, they can keep Torah,
S1: they can keep holidays, they can do all that, but
S1: they can't impose that on someone else. Uh, that's what
S1: it seems like to me. We have freedom, not mandate
S1: a mandate. It's significant, but it's not required. And I
S1: would say to anyone that tells you this, uh, to read, uh,
S1: Colossians 216, therefore, don't let anyone judge you in regard
S1: to food and drink or in the matter of a festival,
S1: or a new moon or a Sabbath day. These are
S1: a shadow of what was to come. The substance is
S1: the Messiah. So, uh, I would say that's that's the
S1: guideline I would give you. Okay, Dave.
S3: And would someone would someone be giving anything up in
S3: heaven as far as level of reward by not following
S3: the Torah?
S1: Well. As I said, if you're following the New covenant now,
S1: there are many things from the Torah that are in
S1: the New Covenant. You know, if you go to the
S1: the Torah, it says, don't commit adultery. So does the
S1: New covenant. Right, right. Yeah.
S4: I get it.
S1: But, uh, what we're we're we're our standard is the
S1: new covenant. So if you're not keeping kosher, I wouldn't worry,
S1: especially if you're not Jewish. I mean, really? So. Yeah. Okay.
S4: All right.
S1: Uh. Colossians two. Okay. Go there. Okay.
S4: Yep. Yep.
S1: Thanks for your call, Dave. Appreciate it. Uh, well, uh,
S1: I do want to tell you about our current resources
S1: called The Story of the Bible. Now, a lot of
S1: people wonder, how do we get our Bible? How did
S1: we get the scriptures? Uh, how did it go from
S1: the inspired text to being copied, transmitted and ultimately translated
S1: into the Bibles we're holding and reading. Well, our current
S1: resource is called The story of the Bible, and it
S1: it tells that amazing story of how it goes from, uh,
S1: inspired text to the Bible that we're holding in our hands,
S1: as written by Carl Laney, a great Bible scholar. But
S1: he wrote it in a language that everyone can understand,
S1: and it's yours. If you give a gift of any size,
S1: you want to say thank you. And I value this
S1: book so much. I wanted to say, hey, read this book. Uh,
S1: it's going to really help you out and give you
S1: greater confidence in the scriptures. And we want to say
S1: thank you by sending you a copy for a gift
S1: of any size. And, uh, now I know a lot
S1: of people listen and never, ever thought about giving a gift. Uh,
S1: or maybe thought about it and never acted on it.
S1: But this is the time to act, because this is
S1: a great resource, and I don't want you to miss
S1: out on the opportunity to get a copy of it,
S1: just go to our website openline Radio.com or call (888) 644-7122
S1: again (888) 644-7122. And you can make sure to ask for
S1: the story of the Bible when you give your gift.
S1: And we're going to come back in just a moment
S1: with more of your questions right here on Open Line
S1: with Michael Wright. Stay with us. We're coming back with
S1: more questions straight ahead. And we're back. So glad that
S1: you're listening on this Saturday morning. My name is Michael Radonich,
S1: and I'm so glad to be with you every week
S1: to talk about the scriptures. This is our Bible study
S1: across America. If you have a question about the Bible, God,
S1: or the spiritual life. Just call (877) 548-3675. We're going to.
S1: Go right back to the phones and talk with Larry
S1: in North Augusta, South Carolina listening on. Welcome to Open Line, Larry.
S1: How can I help you?
S5: Thank you. I like your show a lot. I listen
S5: to it some a good many Saturdays. Uh, my question is, uh.
S5: Thank you. My question is, uh, King David's people that
S5: would be alive today. Do they do they know they
S5: were kin to him? And or is there a way
S5: that they could tell?
S4: Well, there there we can tell.
S1: We can tell who is Jewish through DNA studies. Uh, But,
S1: you know, one of the things that there are two
S1: categories of Jewish people. There's the Mizrahim or Sephardim, they
S1: are the Jews that are from the East, from the
S1: Arab world. And they also they originated actually from Spain. Uh,
S1: what happened is they they went to there were some
S1: that were like in Babylon from ancient days, but then
S1: there were some Jews that went to Spain. Spain is sepharad. And, uh,
S1: they are known as Sephardim. So. And they're very they're
S1: their DNA is really, really similar to the Jews in
S1: the Arab world that went there because of the exile,
S1: particularly to Babylon. Uh, in the exile. Uh, and then, uh,
S1: there's also Jewish people who are called Ashkenazim. The word
S1: Ashkenaz comes from the word for Germany, and they are
S1: the ones that were in Western, central and Eastern Europe,
S1: not southern Europe, but like by Spain, but other places.
S1: Today they've scattered through Eastern Europe, uh, Poland and Germany,
S1: and then of course Poland, Germany, Poland, Russia. Many perished
S1: in the Holocaust. Uh, that was predominantly, uh, the Jews
S1: that perished. And, uh, other interesting studies have shown with
S1: DNA that there's a common source for the Mizrahi or
S1: Sephardic Jews. Those Jewish people, along with the they have
S1: a common source. All of them have a common source.
S1: So all these things where people are saying, oh, the
S1: Jewish people aren't really the Jewish people of the Bible,
S1: they're all mistaken. They, they the DNA studies have confirmed
S1: that Jewish people are indeed the same people descended from
S1: the people who were in the land of Israel now?
S1: Do they know if they're from the tribe of Judah
S1: and related to David? That I don't think we've gotten
S1: down to that because we don't have, uh, David's DNA
S1: to compare it to that. But, uh, but we do
S1: know that we can trace the Jewish people back to
S1: biblical days with DNA. Okay.
S5: All right. Thank you. That's been on my mind. I
S5: appreciate you. I appreciate.
S4: It. Sure.
S1: Sure. I appreciate.
S4: The call.
S1: Uh, we're going to talk to Kathy in Georgia, listening
S1: on a smart speaker. Boy, it's really smart if it
S1: knows how to listen to this. That's great. Kathy, how
S1: can I help you today?
S6: Good morning, sir. You've taught us to pray in the
S6: name of the father, through the blood of Jesus and
S6: in the power of the spirit. Sometimes I need to
S6: just shoot up a prayer in the middle of Something
S6: going on. And I wondered if I could just say,
S6: Dear Jesus and just make it kind of a quick prayer.
S6: But do I need to say all that or just
S6: once a day say those things?
S1: Well, I think when we're having our time of prayer,
S1: I think we should pray in the name of to the.
S1: We pray to God the Father in the name of
S1: the son, by the power of the spirit. There's no
S1: question that that's what the Bible teaches us. But I
S1: think you're asking more about, uh, a Nehemiah prayer. I
S1: call them, uh, in in Nehemiah it says, uh.
S4: That, uh.
S1: That he, he was before the king. And, uh, the
S1: king said, This is Nehemiah two. The king asked him,
S1: why are you sad? and I was overwhelmed with fear
S1: and replied to the king because you should never be
S1: sad in front of the king. So he tells him
S1: why he's sad and the king asks me, what is
S1: your request? And then verse four in the middle it says,
S1: so I pray to the God of heaven and answered
S1: the king, so that prayer must have been just a
S1: momentary prayer. Don't you think.
S4: He prayed.
S1: To the God of heaven and answered, and I think
S1: that's what you're asking about. How do I do a
S1: Nehemiah prayer? Well, truth to tell, uh, I don't I
S1: think this is important for you to get a grasp
S1: of this. God isn't a legalist. He's not going to
S1: ignore you if you say, Lord Jesus and and and
S1: send up one of these Nehemiah prayers, he's not going
S1: to say, ah, that didn't follow the form that I
S1: taught in the Bible. So I'm not listening. He's not
S1: a legalist like that. He will listen, uh, when we
S1: cry out to him, that's the first thing. And then, uh, secondly,
S1: we have an example of someone who had one of
S1: those momentary prayers and prayed to the Lord Jesus. And
S1: that's Steven when he was dying in acts seven, uh,
S1: after his sermon, he said, Lord Jesus, until you, you know,
S1: into your hands I commit my spirit. So he prayed
S1: to the Lord Jesus as he died. That was one
S1: of those emergency prayers, don't you think?
S4: And and yes.
S1: The Lord received it and heard him and welcomed him home. So, uh,
S1: don't don't think I'm saying that God's a legalist and
S1: that this is it. But in the normal circumstances of life,
S1: when we sit down to pray, I really do believe
S1: we should pray to the father in the name of
S1: the son. We. That's why. That's why in Jesus name
S1: is not a just a rote saying that we say
S1: at the end of a prayer, uh, meaning. And now
S1: we're done. No, we pray in the name of Jesus
S1: because he's our representative. We don't deserve anything before the father,
S1: but he can represent us. He's our advocate. Uh, it
S1: says in first John two one and two. And so
S1: that's why we pray in Jesus name. He told us
S1: to ask anything in his name. And then when I say,
S1: by the power of the Holy Spirit, we allow the
S1: Holy Spirit to work in our hearts and allow us
S1: to consider what should we pray about? What is the
S1: Holy Spirit putting on our hearts to pray? And it
S1: doesn't have to be a big emotional thing. I think, Lord,
S1: let the spirit guide my prayer list and and he
S1: shows me what I should be praying. And that's what
S1: I mean by praying in the power of the spirit. Okay.
S6: Yes, sir. Thank you so much.
S1: Yeah. Thank you so much for your call. Appreciate it. Uh,
S1: we're going to talk. We're going to talk to Davis
S1: in South Carolina. Welcome to Open Line. Davis, how can
S1: I help you today?
S7: Bless you. Doctor. Thank you so much. Yeah. I just
S7: wanted to, um, to expound just a minute or two
S7: on what Amy, um, question was concerning the Passover. And
S7: that was good. That was good. I just want to
S7: say that, um, Jesus had to come off the cross
S7: on that Friday because according to God's word, from sun
S7: up to sundown is a new day. Mhm. From sun
S7: up to sundown is a new day. Friday was already in.
S7: If the sun had went down on Jesus on that Friday,
S7: it would have entered into Sabbath. So they were very.
S7: So the people were very concerned that we got to
S7: get him off the cross. We can't leave him up
S7: here or we're going to have problems in this city.
S7: So they took him down because. Because the Sabbath was
S7: coming in. And of course, we know the Bible says
S7: the Sabbath is made for man and not man for
S7: the Sabbath. Uh, so that's the reason why they took
S7: Jesus off the cross? Because the Sabbath was coming in?
S1: Yes. And and and the question was what day? It
S1: was clearly Friday, because it was the Sabbath coming. Right.
S1: That's what your point is, right?
S7: Yes. Yes yes, yes. Yeah. That that was my point.
S7: And I just wanted an amen. And others, you know, to,
S7: to at least, uh, understand that as well. You know, I, uh, I,
S7: I've taught Jewish study, uh, for quite some time and, uh,
S7: and I keep the Sabbath. I'm a Sabbath keeper. Okay. And, uh, so. Yes. But.
S1: Well, thank you for your call, Davis. I appreciate the input,
S1: I really do. Thank you. Okay. You have a great day.
S1: Bye bye. Uh, we're going to talk with Lewis in
S1: Deerfield Beach, Florida. Listening to welcome to Open Line. Lewis.
S1: How can I help you today?
S8: Hey, how are you? Doctor. How are you, man?
S1: I am well, thank you.
S8: This is my question. Um, I was reading that, um, the, um, uh,
S8: Mary's parents immaculate conception, that Mary's parents were without sin
S8: in order, in order to Christ to come through the.
S8: Through Mary. Uh, is that true?
S1: The. Was Mary without sin? No. The only the only Mary.
S8: Mary's parents that were born.
S1: Well, no, Mary wasn't without sin. That's what they're saying.
S1: That's what the Immaculate Conception is, that Mary was conceived
S1: and did not have sin in her. It's not talking
S1: about her parents when it talks about the Immaculate Conception,
S1: it's people, uh, believe that there are people who believe
S1: that that Mary was sinless. Now, according to scripture, the
S1: only one who never sinned was her son, the Lord Jesus. Absolutely. And, uh,
S1: not only that, in her Magnificat, her her prayer, uh,
S1: that that she offered when she heard about the that
S1: she was going to bear a son, uh, in the Magnificat,
S1: she calls God her Redeemer, her Savior. And and so
S1: it says, my spirit. In Luke chapter one, verse 47,
S1: my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, because he
S1: looked with favor on his, on the humble condition of
S1: his slave. Now how does she call God her Savior?
S1: If she was sinless, she wouldn't need a Savior. So
S1: for that reason, I think it's pretty clear that Mary
S1: was a wonderful, godly woman. Clearly wonderful, godly woman. Very
S1: much living according to the scriptures and faithful. But she
S1: was not sinless. Well, we're going to come back with
S1: the Febc mailbag in just a moment, so stay with us.
S1: This is Open Line with Michael Melnick. Thanks for listening.
S1: We're going to be right back. So stay right there.
S1: Welcome back to Open Line. So grateful to be with you.
S1: It's time for the Febc mailbag. You know, I am
S1: so grateful for Far Eastern Broadcasting Company for that great
S1: ministry that brings the good news to people through media,
S1: through personal, encounters with people as well. Febc is doing
S1: such a great job. And so I'd like you to
S1: check out their website. Febc. Org. Thank them. I thank
S1: them for sponsoring the Febc mailbag every week, and also
S1: check out their podcast Until All Have Heard featuring Ed Cannon,
S1: my good friend. And you're going to really be encouraged
S1: by this excellent ministry. And joining me right now to
S1: hear Haynes, part of the team here at Openline. Thank
S1: you to Hira for sitting in today for Trish.
S9: I am happy to be here. Thank you so much
S9: for having me.
S1: You know where Trish is right now.
S9: Where is Tricia?
S1: She's with her kids, uh, at an Easter egg hunt.
S1: Because it's spring break, and that's why she's not here today.
S9: How fun.
S1: Yeah. Yep. Easter egg hunt. You know where the the.
S1: I think this is interesting. People think that the egg
S1: Came to Easter. This is kind of bizarro. Uh, they
S1: they when they kind of merged back in the fourth century,
S1: they adapted a date by Constantine at the Council of
S1: Nicaea to make it part of when the pagan festivals
S1: were in the spring. And of course, some people said
S1: they were fertility rites. And so the egg became prominent.
S1: And that's where it came from. Sort of a syncretism.
S1: Could be. I don't know. But, uh, part of the Seder,
S1: the Passover meal, was the egg that you eat in saltwater.
S1: And the reason the rabbi said we didn't egg in
S1: saltwater is that the egg represents the daily sacrifice, because
S1: every day the hen would lay an egg. And so
S1: every day there was a sacrifice. And then, uh, it
S1: was eaten in salt water because the temple was destroyed
S1: and because the temple was destroyed. We were sad. So
S1: we eat, we dip it or eat it with salt
S1: water to show our tears at the destruction of the temple.
S1: I eat an egg in salt water at my Seder,
S1: because I am sad that my people don't know that
S1: there is. There is a remaining sacrifice for them, a
S1: sacrifice for their sins, the Messiah. But here's the thing.
S1: It was Judaism that took the egg first, and it
S1: had nothing to do with paganism. And and I think
S1: that's where the church got the egg thing.
S9: Thank you for that.
S1: That that's kind of a different take on that. But anyway, uh, uh,
S1: I don't think they realized where it comes from. Nevertheless, uh,
S1: we've got the mailbag there. Thanks. Oh, I did want
S1: to say thanks for being part of the team, too.
S1: And I need to remind everyone that if you are
S1: listening to Open Line, you're part of the team, too,
S1: along with Tricia and Tahira and Omar. Uh, we appreciate
S1: you listening. And some of you have given, even occasionally,
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S1: let me tell you we will send you a Bible
S1: study moment, an audio Bible study prepared exclusively for our
S1: kitchen table partners every other week. Click on it. Listen
S1: to it on your your computer or your iPhone or
S1: whatever you're listening to. And when you become a kitchen
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S1: you've given it occasionally or never given, if you'd like
S1: to become a kitchen table partner, we would really appreciate it.
S1: All you have to do is call (888) 644-7122. That's (888) 644-7122.
S1: Or go to open line radio.org. Okay. Let's talk about
S1: these questions.
S9: Yes. The first one is from Sue in North Carolina.
S9: Listening through. My pastor says, if you believe in Christ,
S9: you are saved. If a person says they believe in
S9: God and Christ His son, and they believe that he
S9: died for our sins, but they don't go to church
S9: or read the Bible or talk about God. And, um,
S9: it's not by works. Are they truly saved?
S1: Well, the gospel is that a person has to believe
S1: that Jesus died for their sins and rose again, and
S1: that proves he's God. That's what it is. Now, there
S1: are people out there that seem to have no fruit
S1: in their lives. And we think, well, uh, they probably
S1: don't know the Lord, but they never deny their faith.
S1: They just say it's not affecting my life. They don't
S1: have Jesus in their life. They have Jesus in their
S1: future life. They say, now, this is a weird thing.
S1: What I would say is, I don't know their hearts.
S1: I don't know if there's a little bit of fruit
S1: that God can see that I can't. So I try
S1: never to judge a person depending on their profession. If
S1: they profess faith, I, I want to can agree with that. Now,
S1: I think it's interesting that in first Corinthians five when
S1: Paul is addressing, uh, a member of the body of
S1: in Corinth who is in sexual sin. Paul doesn't deny
S1: that he's a believer, even though that there's very little
S1: fruit in his life. But instead he says this so-called brother,
S1: that's how he describes him.
S9: Okay.
S1: So he says, well, he's claiming to be a brother.
S1: We're going to deal with him as such. But he's
S1: so called because I have my doubts about him. So, uh,
S1: but even then, Paul doesn't deny that he's a brother.
S1: He just calls him a so-called brother. So that's what
S1: I would say. I would encourage anyone that professes faith
S1: if you love me, you'll obey my commandments. Jesus said,
S1: anyone I talk to who loves Jesus and isn't in
S1: my sense walking with them, I would just encourage them, hey,
S1: you know your life will flourish. Your life will be
S1: better if you if we obey him. So that's that's
S1: where I would go.
S9: Thank you for that answer, Michael. And that question, Sue.
S9: Our next question is from Mary in Illinois with WNBA.
S9: She said my niece is professor at a university, is
S9: saying that Israel should be held accountable for genocide. And
S9: what are your thoughts about that?
S1: Well, it sounds like it's a professor saying such things
S1: as our college campuses have been inundated with falsehoods about Israel. Uh, and,
S1: you know, it's it's part of, uh, Hamas's plan to
S1: do this. Let me just say straight out that, first
S1: of all, that this didn't start with the current Gaza war.
S1: It actually began years ago, like about 2005 is when
S1: all of a sudden, hey, let's call this genocide. I
S1: call that Holocaust inversion. The anti-Semites today don't want to, uh,
S1: say that Jewish people were subject to genocide. They were
S1: the objects of genocide. In fact, a Jewish person named
S1: Lemkin is the one that came up with the term
S1: for genocide to describe the Holocaust. And so, uh, I
S1: think it was Rudolph or Raphael, Raphael Lemkin that that
S1: came up with that name, that term, uh, and anti-Semites
S1: today want to absolve their own sense of guilt for
S1: what happened to the Jewish people by accusing the Jewish
S1: people of being guilty of genocide. And that's why they
S1: accused Israel of genocide. It is a lie on the
S1: face of it. In this current war, people are shouting genocide. Genocide!
S1: 50,000 dead. claiming 70% of the dead are women and children. Well,
S1: just a few weeks ago, even Hamas took those names
S1: of women and children off their lists. They decided, oh,
S1: this isn't going to work. So even they backed off
S1: of that charge. They don't ever describe how many of
S1: the people who died in Gaza are, uh, are combatants, uh,
S1: with the the majority of them are combatants. And another
S1: thing that comes about, yes, there are tragic civilian, uh,
S1: collateral deaths. And it's tragic. It's horrible. Uh, Israel doesn't
S1: want to have collateral deaths. In fact, Israel is so careful,
S1: they announce where they're going. They they try to get
S1: civilians out of areas of fire so that they won't have, uh,
S1: civilian collateral death. And John Spencer from from West Point.
S1: The foremost expert on urban warfare says Israel has the
S1: lowest collateral civilian death of any war that has ever
S1: been fought in an urban area because Israel is so careful.
S1: Let me just put it this way. One last thing
S1: about this. There are about 500 to maybe 700,000 Palestinian
S1: refugees in 1948, people who fled what was then called
S1: Palestine as the state was partitioned and it was going
S1: to be a Jewish and Arab state, the Arab states
S1: rejected it. Many Palestinians fled, uh, and as a result,
S1: there were about 5 to 700,000. The numbers vary, but
S1: no more than 700,000. At the same time, there were
S1: 750,000 Jewish refugees from the Arab world, and they just
S1: got incorporated into Israel. But what happened to the Palestinian refugees?
S1: Today there are 14 million plus.
S9: Okay.
S1: That's. That doesn't sound like a genocide to me. Uh,
S1: also in Israel itself or the West Bank, Gaza, uh,
S1: areas like that, uh, there are about five and a
S1: half to 6 million Palestinians, descendants of those refugees. Listen,
S1: my parents were Holocaust survivors. We lost all our family. Uh, I,
S1: I have hardly any family members. When you think about it,
S1: there were 9 million Jewish people in, uh, in Europe.
S1: 6 million were murdered. And it's only recently that the
S1: world Jewish population came up to what it was at
S1: the at the eve of World War two. Uh, this, uh,
S1: this is a wrong, anti-Semitic driven, spurious Lie against Israel,
S1: that they are somehow carrying out a genocide against the
S1: Palestinian people. And if you want to know, I'll tell
S1: you what I really think. That's what I think. Okay.
S9: Thank you. Michael, it is certainly a time for prayers,
S9: but thank you for that response. Do we have time
S9: for one more?
S1: Uh, yeah.
S9: Okay. We'll do Joe in Delaware. How is it that
S9: the yeast referred to in Matthew 1333 is often taught
S9: to be the gospel as a symbol of growth, when
S9: yeast is always a symbol of sin throughout the scriptures.
S1: It's that the answer is it's not always a symbol
S1: of sin. It's sometimes a symbol of sin. That's how
S1: it is with figures of speech. They're not always consistently
S1: used in the same way. The reason it's frequently used
S1: as a symbol of sin is because the way yeast
S1: grows and spreads. But it really is a symbol of
S1: growth And the kingdom of God is going to grow.
S1: That that's why it uses yeast of it for it. Uh,
S1: but because it grows, it's also considered a symbol of sin,
S1: the leaven of malice. In First Corinthians five, uh, and
S1: places where like. Beware, beware of the leaven of the
S1: Pharisees and the Sadducees, the leaven of the Pharisees being hypocrisy,
S1: the leaven of the Sadducees being unbelief. Those sins grow
S1: and spread. That's that's why it's used as leaven. But
S1: it's not 100% always something sinful. So. Okay.
S9: Thank you.
S1: Yeah. We're going to take a break here. And, uh,
S1: when we come back, we'll take more of your questions
S1: right here on Open Line. My name is Michael Ray Jelinek.
S1: That was Tara Haynes. Keep on listening. We're going to
S1: be back with more calls straight ahead, right here on
S1: Moody Radio's Open Line. Welcome back to Open Line. I
S1: am so glad to be with you today. A couple
S1: of things I need to mention. Uh, first of all, uh,
S1: I'd like you to check out, uh, Open Line radio.org
S1: and scroll down to where it says check out Michael's
S1: personal web page. It's got a couple of things coming up, uh,
S1: that are very exciting for me next fall. Uh, hope
S1: it'll be exciting for you, too. We're going back to
S1: Israel for the first time in a couple of years,
S1: and it's safe there now. And, uh, people are really
S1: wanting to show their solidarity. A lot of people have
S1: been asking me to take them to Israel, so check
S1: that out there. And also we're going to have a
S1: wonderful Bible conference in the Caribbean next winter, so don't
S1: miss that one. Uh, it'll actually be on a tall ship,
S1: so check those out. Also, uh, Chosen People Ministries. Uh,
S1: one of our partners in bringing Open Line. They offer
S1: something very special. Tonight's Passover. And it's a festival with
S1: such a meaningful celebration of redemption. So Chosen People Ministries
S1: is offering a free booklet called Passover A time for redemption.
S1: And the most important part of this book, it shows
S1: how Passover establishes the the the pattern of how the
S1: Lord Jesus are pure and spotless. Lamb died for us
S1: as our Passover lamb. And if you'd like a copy
S1: of it, just go to our website again. Open Line radio.org.
S1: Scroll down till you come to the free gift from
S1: Chosen People Ministries. Click on that and you can get up. Uh,
S1: sign up for your own copy of Passover A time
S1: for redemption. And we're going to talk with Sue in
S1: Florida Keys. Welcome to Open Line, Sue. How can I
S1: help you?
S10: Hi. Thank you for what you do here with this
S10: radio program. It's always very helpful. Um, my question was,
S10: I have been praying for my daughter's salvation for 40 years.
S10: And every day that's in my prayer journal. And I
S10: was wondering if when I get to heaven, if I
S10: would be able to intercede at the throne of grace
S10: for her salvation. Is there prayer in heaven for those
S10: on earth? I guess is my question.
S1: Well, some people think, uh, for example, in revelation 12,
S1: where it talks about the incense being the prayer of
S1: the saints. But I think it's the prayers of the
S1: saints on earth, not not the saints in saints being believers. Um, uh,
S1: I don't know, the Bible doesn't say you won't be
S1: able to talk to the Lord about it, but I
S1: think the really important person is the person. You've been
S1: praying in his name all throughout this time. He will
S1: continue that there's only one mediator between God and humanity,
S1: and that is the Messiah, Jesus. So first Timothy two
S1: five should be a comfort, whether you can pray or not,
S1: I don't know. I know you can't watch on a
S1: lot of people think, oh, we're we're somehow granted omniscience.
S1: So we know what's going on on earth while we're
S1: in heaven. I don't believe that's true when it says
S1: in Romans, in Hebrews 12 that we have so great
S1: a cloud of witnesses. It's only referring to those in
S1: first Corinthians, in in Hebrews 11, where they exercise faith,
S1: all these Old Testament people and people in the Intertestamental period,
S1: They live by faith. And then Paul's whoever wrote Hebrews says,
S1: since we have so great a cloud of testifiers, people
S1: who testify to the value of faith, it's talking about
S1: the people in Hebrews 11. It's not talking about people
S1: in heaven watching us, but rather the people who are
S1: mentioned in Hebrews 11. They testify to the faithfulness of God,
S1: the value of faith themselves. And so I don't think
S1: we become omniscient. We won't be watching our our loved
S1: ones on earth. Uh, but God does. He knows. And
S1: the Lord Jesus is the mediator who will bring those
S1: prayers continually to the father. Okay.
S11: Okay. Thanks so much. God bless you.
S1: And by the way, I don't know that you can't
S1: pray when you're with the Lord. Uh, maybe you can. Uh,
S1: I don't there's nothing in Scripture that says yes or no. Okay.
S10: Right, right. Thanks so much. God bless.
S1: Sure. Okay. Bye bye. Uh, we're going to speak next with, uh,
S1: Dave in Chicago listening on WNBA. Welcome to Open Line, Dave.
S1: How can I help you?
S12: Thank you. My question is about John 2023. It appears
S12: Jesus is giving the disciples authority to forgive sins. It
S12: just seems rather odd to me. I thought only he
S12: could forgive sins.
S1: Uh, I think it's really not talking about them. By
S1: the way, I can forgive sins if you sinned against me, Dave,
S1: or I sin against you. We can forgive each other,
S1: can we not?
S12: Uh. That's true. Maybe I misunderstood the verse.
S1: No, no, no, you didn't. But, I mean, don't take away, uh,
S1: the expectation that we're supposed to forgive, uh, you know,
S1: but in verse 23, what it's saying, receive the Holy Spirit.
S1: It says in verse 22, that's a temporary infilling to
S1: get them from, uh, the resurrection here all the way
S1: to to Pentecost. And then it says, if you forgive
S1: the sins of any, they are forgiven them. If you
S1: retain the sins of any, they are retained. That actually
S1: has to do with the proclamation of the apostles. The
S1: apostles are going to say. Uh, clearly an example would
S1: be Paul. Believe on the Lord Jesus and your sins
S1: will be forgiven. Right. Acts 16. Uh, that's what it's saying,
S1: is if I'm giving you the authority to proclaim forgiveness.
S1: And if someone says to you, but I believe in Jesus,
S1: you can say your sins are forgiven. If someone says,
S1: I refuse to believe in Jesus, you can say your
S1: sins are not forgiven. That's what it's saying. It's giving
S1: them the authority to proclaim, uh, the forgiveness of sins
S1: of people based on whether or not they believe in
S1: Jesus or not. I think this is crucial. In John 824,
S1: the Lord Jesus says, unless you believe that I am he?
S1: Literally I am. You're still in your sins. We must believe.
S1: We must proclaim that truth. But what good news we
S1: can proclaim? Your sins are forgiven because you've trusted in Jesus.
S1: I think that's what it's talking about there in John. Okay, Dave.
S12: Thank you.
S1: Yeah. Hey, thanks for listening, everyone. I can't believe the
S1: program is over for this week. We'll see you next week.
S1: Thanks for the Open Line team to hear. Omar. Lisa. Karen,
S1: thanks for all that you do. Remember, keep in touch
S1: with us by going to our website, Open Line radio.org.
S1: All the helpful links are current resource, how to become
S1: a kitchen table partner. Even a link to my personal
S1: web page. They're all there. Check that out. Keep reading
S1: the Bible and you can talk about it next week
S1: in a very special program that we're going to have.
S1: Open line with Doctor Michael Melnick is a production of
S1: Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute. See you
S1: next week.