WEBVTT - Hour 1: Clarity on Confusing Scriptures 0:00:09.920 --> 0:00:13.280 This past week, I heard someone say that the gospel 0:00:13.280 --> 0:00:17.920 was that Jesus died for our sins. That's an incomplete statement. 0:00:18.239 --> 0:00:20.760 I heard someone else say that the gospel includes the 0:00:20.760 --> 0:00:24.520 ascension of the Messiah, Jesus, which adds to the gospel. 0:00:24.520 --> 0:00:29.600 It's an added statement. And also someone said that we 0:00:29.600 --> 0:00:34.000 need personal holiness as part of the gospel, that we 0:00:34.000 --> 0:00:37.120 have to be good to be saved. That's a distorted statement. 0:00:37.640 --> 0:00:40.480 What is the good news? According to the Bible. Stay 0:00:40.479 --> 0:00:44.720 with me and we'll talk about that in just a moment. Hello, friends. 0:00:44.720 --> 0:00:48.920 Welcome to Open Line, Moody Radio's Bible study across America. 0:00:49.240 --> 0:00:52.000 My name is Michael. I'm the academic dean. I'm a 0:00:52.000 --> 0:00:55.720 professor of Jewish studies and Bible at Moody Bible Institute. 0:00:55.920 --> 0:00:59.040 I'm so grateful that you're joining me today around the 0:00:59.080 --> 0:01:03.280 radio kitchen table. And we're going to talk about your 0:01:03.280 --> 0:01:07.840 questions about the Bible, God and the spiritual life. If 0:01:07.840 --> 0:01:11.240 you have a question and you'd like to call, here's 0:01:11.240 --> 0:01:17.960 the phone number. Ready? (877) 548-3675 I'm going to slow it 0:01:17.959 --> 0:01:28.679 down there. Write this down. (877) 548-3675. Let me give you, uh, 0:01:28.680 --> 0:01:31.160 who's here with me today to hear. Haynes is sitting 0:01:31.160 --> 0:01:34.640 in the producer's chair. Omar Mendoza is our tech guy. 0:01:34.680 --> 0:01:37.080 Titus is answering the phones. Lisa is here helping out 0:01:37.080 --> 0:01:44.720 as well. Grateful for her again. The phone number (877) 548-3675. 0:01:44.760 --> 0:01:46.640 It's time to get yourself a cup of coffee. I've 0:01:46.640 --> 0:01:49.680 got my coffee and my open line mug right here. 0:01:49.800 --> 0:01:54.800 It's so hot. It's burning my lips and my tongue and, uh, 0:01:54.840 --> 0:01:57.800 have to be careful with that. Open your Bible because 0:01:57.800 --> 0:02:01.390 we're going to talk about and study the scriptures together. 0:02:03.390 --> 0:02:08.750 Imagine you see a terrible car accident. You're the first 0:02:08.750 --> 0:02:11.150 one to get to the vehicle, and the driver is 0:02:11.150 --> 0:02:14.990 clearly in bad shape, seemingly at the point of death. 0:02:15.470 --> 0:02:18.950 And at the last moment he turns to you and says, 0:02:19.630 --> 0:02:22.270 I'm afraid to face God. How can I know that 0:02:22.270 --> 0:02:26.190 my sins are forgiven? Could you explain the good news 0:02:26.190 --> 0:02:30.470 of Jesus to this desperate person in 25 words or less? 0:02:30.470 --> 0:02:35.070 Because that's all the time you've got. I'm asking this 0:02:35.070 --> 0:02:38.630 because this circumstance demonstrates that the good news of Jesus, 0:02:38.630 --> 0:02:42.989 the Messiah, is our most important message. And in first 0:02:42.990 --> 0:02:46.310 Corinthians 15 one through eight, Paul declares that the message 0:02:46.310 --> 0:02:50.030 that the Corinthians believed in and by which they were saved, 0:02:50.030 --> 0:02:54.830 the good news was delivered to them as of first importance. 0:02:54.830 --> 0:02:58.950 So this is really important. Unfortunately, although the message of 0:02:58.950 --> 0:03:05.870 the gospel is such a priority, frequently committed, educated, biblically astute, 0:03:05.870 --> 0:03:11.910 mature Jesus followers present and proclaim this really basic message 0:03:12.910 --> 0:03:16.830 in a, in a, in a in an inadequate way. 0:03:18.389 --> 0:03:23.110 Today I want to review the most important message. What 0:03:23.110 --> 0:03:26.829 is the gospel? What is the good news that we proclaim? 0:03:27.150 --> 0:03:30.910 What must we believe to experience God's forgiveness and new 0:03:30.910 --> 0:03:34.710 life in Jesus? In first Corinthians 15, Paul uses the 0:03:34.710 --> 0:03:38.030 word gospel. It's two Greek words put together into one. 0:03:38.030 --> 0:03:42.270 It means good news. In verses one and two, he 0:03:42.270 --> 0:03:45.510 says that he proclaimed this message of good news and 0:03:45.510 --> 0:03:48.310 the Corinthians have received it. He even says that they 0:03:48.310 --> 0:03:51.870 are saved by this good news. This is the essential 0:03:51.870 --> 0:03:54.750 message of the faith that he delivered it to them. 0:03:54.790 --> 0:03:59.100 Of first importance. It is what we must believe to 0:03:59.140 --> 0:04:04.180 experience God's redemption and forgiveness in Jesus. So what is it? 0:04:04.700 --> 0:04:07.620 The first part of the good news found in first 0:04:07.620 --> 0:04:12.540 Corinthians 15, verses three and four, is that the Messiah, Jesus, died. 0:04:13.580 --> 0:04:16.140 Paul also gives the reason for his death. It was 0:04:16.140 --> 0:04:20.659 for our sins. He died as a sin substitute, taking 0:04:20.660 --> 0:04:24.820 the punishment that we deserved for our sins. Then Paul 0:04:24.820 --> 0:04:28.779 gives the evidence that Jesus really died as our sin substitute. 0:04:29.380 --> 0:04:32.539 The first part of the evidence is biblical. It was 0:04:32.540 --> 0:04:37.140 according to the scriptures, meaning that Old Testament passages like 0:04:37.140 --> 0:04:42.780 Isaiah 53 foretold the Messiah's death on our behalf. The 0:04:42.820 --> 0:04:48.140 second part of the evidence is historical. He was buried, 0:04:48.180 --> 0:04:53.140 meaning Jesus really died. It wasn't a sham. He didn't 0:04:53.140 --> 0:04:58.700 merely swoon or appear to be dead. He really, truly 0:04:58.940 --> 0:05:02.340 died or he would not have been buried. And when 0:05:02.339 --> 0:05:06.020 he died, he took the punishment that we deserve. So 0:05:06.020 --> 0:05:09.380 the first part of the good news is that the Messiah, Jesus, 0:05:09.380 --> 0:05:12.300 died for us. What's the second part? Well, the second 0:05:12.300 --> 0:05:15.900 part of the good news is found in first Corinthians 15, 0:05:15.900 --> 0:05:18.859 verses four through eight. It is that the Messiah, Jesus, 0:05:18.860 --> 0:05:22.220 rose from the dead. The reason the resurrection is so 0:05:22.339 --> 0:05:28.060 important is that it validated his deity. It proved he 0:05:28.060 --> 0:05:33.340 really is God. You see, anyone can claim to be God. 0:05:33.339 --> 0:05:35.940 But how do we know that Jesus, who claimed to 0:05:35.940 --> 0:05:40.140 be God in the flesh? Flesh really was God. The 0:05:40.140 --> 0:05:45.299 proof is the resurrection. God the father validated Jesus claim 0:05:45.500 --> 0:05:48.700 by raising him from the dead. And that's why Romans 0:05:48.700 --> 0:05:51.020 ten nine and ten says that if we confess that 0:05:51.020 --> 0:05:55.290 Jesus is Lord, meaning that he is God. That he 0:05:55.330 --> 0:05:58.570 is Lord, and believe that God raised him from the 0:05:58.570 --> 0:06:02.370 dead will be saved, just as he did for the 0:06:02.370 --> 0:06:05.089 death of the Messiah. Paul gives two lines of evidence 0:06:05.089 --> 0:06:08.570 for his resurrection. First, the biblical evidence is that it 0:06:08.570 --> 0:06:12.570 was according to the scriptures. Likely Paul has in mind 0:06:12.570 --> 0:06:18.489 passages like Psalm 1610 and Isaiah 53 1011, which predict 0:06:18.490 --> 0:06:24.849 the Messiah's resurrection. Second, there's historical evidence. Again he was 0:06:24.850 --> 0:06:29.810 seen alive. He appeared to Peter, to the apostles, and 0:06:29.810 --> 0:06:34.610 up to 500 people at one time. He really is alive. 0:06:36.010 --> 0:06:38.930 So often I hear people presenting the good news and 0:06:38.930 --> 0:06:42.970 they say it's that Jesus died for our sins. That's true, 0:06:42.970 --> 0:06:45.770 but that's not all of it. We have to include 0:06:45.770 --> 0:06:49.450 that Jesus is alive, that he was raised from the dead. Listen, 0:06:49.450 --> 0:06:53.049 the Romans crucified 20,000 Jewish men in the first century, 0:06:53.170 --> 0:06:57.370 but only one was raised from the dead. So when 0:06:57.370 --> 0:07:00.770 presenting the good news, we can't assume that those who 0:07:00.810 --> 0:07:03.930 hear the message will know that Jesus was raised. Friends, 0:07:04.610 --> 0:07:07.770 let me give you a challenge. Listen carefully to the 0:07:07.770 --> 0:07:10.850 various presentations you hear about the good news. It might 0:07:10.850 --> 0:07:13.730 be a commercial on Christian radio, or a pamphlet you 0:07:13.730 --> 0:07:17.410 might read, or a website, or a message at your congregation, 0:07:17.410 --> 0:07:21.570 or just anywhere. Note how frequently people leave out the 0:07:21.570 --> 0:07:25.370 resurrection of Jesus when presenting the Good news. It's not 0:07:25.370 --> 0:07:28.730 that people don't believe in the resurrection, they just don't 0:07:28.770 --> 0:07:32.890 realize how essential it is. So here's the good news 0:07:32.890 --> 0:07:35.890 in a nutshell. It's what we must believe to become 0:07:35.890 --> 0:07:40.130 a child of God. Ready, Messiah Jesus died for our 0:07:40.130 --> 0:07:44.530 sins and rose again, proving he is God. That's it. 0:07:45.050 --> 0:07:49.610 It's not about going forward. Raising our hands, getting baptized, 0:07:49.610 --> 0:07:54.680 joining a church, being really, really good or feeling really, 0:07:54.680 --> 0:07:57.560 really bad for all the wrong we've done. It's not 0:07:57.560 --> 0:08:01.240 about knowing everything in the Bible, memorizing the Apostles Creed, 0:08:01.240 --> 0:08:06.440 repeating the Westminster Catechism or anything else people may have proposed. 0:08:06.840 --> 0:08:10.800 It's this the Messiah. Jesus died for our sins and 0:08:10.800 --> 0:08:15.160 rose again, proving he is God. Now, what would I 0:08:15.160 --> 0:08:18.160 say to that guy in the car accident in 25 0:08:18.160 --> 0:08:22.880 words or less? Here it is. The wrong things we 0:08:22.880 --> 0:08:28.240 do separate us from God. Messiah Jesus died taking our 0:08:28.240 --> 0:08:33.840 punishment and rose again, proving He is God. Trust in him. 0:08:34.640 --> 0:08:41.359 That's it. That's exactly 25 words. It's of first importance 0:08:41.679 --> 0:08:45.679 that we believe this essential message. Have you trusted that 0:08:45.679 --> 0:08:49.000 Jesus died for you and rose again, proving he is God. 0:08:49.800 --> 0:08:54.120 If not, today's the day. Do it right now. Trust 0:08:54.120 --> 0:08:57.800 in him. And if you have indeed made that faith 0:08:57.800 --> 0:09:03.000 decision already, then be assured you are God's child forever. 0:09:03.880 --> 0:09:06.880 And that message has become the most important message we 0:09:06.880 --> 0:09:10.400 can ever present to anyone else. Let's make it our 0:09:10.400 --> 0:09:14.160 commitment to proclaim this good news, so that we can 0:09:14.160 --> 0:09:19.880 help people find the Lord Jesus and experience his mercy, grace, 0:09:19.880 --> 0:09:33.040 and forgiveness. Well, that is the an adaptation of the 0:09:33.040 --> 0:09:36.480 first chapter in a book I wrote called 50 Most 0:09:36.480 --> 0:09:40.240 Important Bible Questions. If you're interested in reading that in detail, 0:09:40.400 --> 0:09:43.160 a little bit more detail even than that, you can 0:09:43.160 --> 0:09:47.320 pick up a copy of 50 Most Important Bible Questions 0:09:47.710 --> 0:09:51.550 Moody publishers book from a couple of years ago. Uh, 0:09:51.550 --> 0:09:53.270 we're going to go to the phones right now and 0:09:53.270 --> 0:09:57.150 talk to James in Webster, Florida, listening on Wqez. Welcome 0:09:57.150 --> 0:10:00.710 to Open Line. James. How can I help you? 0:10:00.790 --> 0:10:03.270 Uh, good to talk to you. Uh, I was just 0:10:03.270 --> 0:10:06.750 wondering when when God created Adam and Eve, they were 0:10:06.750 --> 0:10:10.270 the first two he created. He put them in the 0:10:10.270 --> 0:10:15.869 Garden of Eden, and, uh, he put the the the fruit, 0:10:15.910 --> 0:10:19.030 the tree, or and, uh, told them they could eat 0:10:19.030 --> 0:10:23.910 from anything of the garden except for that. And, uh, 0:10:23.950 --> 0:10:27.790 he I understand that. Excuse me. I understand that he 0:10:27.790 --> 0:10:31.950 gave them free will, but he he knew because he's God, 0:10:31.950 --> 0:10:35.590 he knows everything. He knew that that they would, would, 0:10:35.750 --> 0:10:38.709 would eat of the fruit and fall and not do 0:10:38.710 --> 0:10:43.310 what he said and bring, uh, the curse onto the 0:10:43.309 --> 0:10:47.070 earth or bring sin to the earth. Why, why would 0:10:47.110 --> 0:10:50.790 why would I just want understanding? Why would he even 0:10:50.830 --> 0:10:55.550 put the tree there for him to do it? And, uh, 0:10:55.590 --> 0:10:58.870 why would he give him the option? Why wouldn't he? 0:10:58.910 --> 0:11:01.270 Why would he just say, I'm going to put you 0:11:01.270 --> 0:11:04.670 on on earth? This is Paradise. But there's going to 0:11:04.670 --> 0:11:07.230 be sin. There's going to be pain. There's going to 0:11:07.230 --> 0:11:14.270 be suffering. I just never could never understand the reason. 0:11:14.270 --> 0:11:17.870 If he knows that they're going to do wrong. Because 0:11:17.870 --> 0:11:19.750 there are only two people here. James. 0:11:19.830 --> 0:11:21.750 James, I got your question. 0:11:21.750 --> 0:11:24.670 I understand your question, but here's my question for you. 0:11:25.429 --> 0:11:27.429 Do you believe that Jesus died for your sins and 0:11:27.429 --> 0:11:28.189 rose again? 0:11:29.590 --> 0:11:30.070 Yes, sir. 0:11:30.830 --> 0:11:32.230 Have you put your trust in him? 0:11:33.910 --> 0:11:34.870 Yes, sir. 0:11:35.270 --> 0:11:39.390 Okay, then here's the deal. I'm going to try my 0:11:39.390 --> 0:11:43.910 best to explain this to you. I'm not sure that 0:11:43.910 --> 0:11:48.540 anyone has a perfect explanation. I'll do my best. But 0:11:49.380 --> 0:11:53.100 you don't have to understand this. That's. That's why I 0:11:53.100 --> 0:11:55.620 asked you that question. What you have to understand is 0:11:55.620 --> 0:12:01.860 that God redeemed us and redeemed that entire situation. And 0:12:01.860 --> 0:12:06.260 that's what's most important. There there comes a time when 0:12:06.260 --> 0:12:08.580 we have to say, you know what? I don't understand everything. 0:12:09.220 --> 0:12:11.140 But God is good and he knows what he's doing. 0:12:11.140 --> 0:12:12.860 He knows a whole lot better than me. And I 0:12:12.860 --> 0:12:15.740 don't have to understand everything he did. And that's what 0:12:15.740 --> 0:12:18.060 I really want to encourage you to, to say. You 0:12:18.059 --> 0:12:23.459 know what? I may never understand this, but God really 0:12:23.460 --> 0:12:27.300 went out of his way. He extended himself. He stretched. 0:12:27.820 --> 0:12:30.220 God became a man. He took on the punishment that 0:12:30.220 --> 0:12:34.500 we were, the suffering that we encounter on earth. He 0:12:34.500 --> 0:12:37.620 didn't deserve any of it. The the Lord Jesus died 0:12:37.620 --> 0:12:41.059 for us, rose again. And that's what we believe. And 0:12:41.059 --> 0:12:44.620 he's remedied the situation. Now, first of all, the reason 0:12:44.620 --> 0:12:47.300 he didn't just put humanity on Earth without a test 0:12:47.620 --> 0:12:54.340 is because then we'd be robots. We would be robots. And, uh, 0:12:54.340 --> 0:12:59.500 a robot or a computer or a machine can't genuinely love. 0:12:59.580 --> 0:13:03.740 There has to be a choice of obedience to to 0:13:03.780 --> 0:13:12.740 love someone. Uh, and so, uh, the the options weren't, uh, 0:13:12.740 --> 0:13:16.380 I suppose we could say the option was to, to 0:13:16.420 --> 0:13:19.020 have this test that God knew we would fail because 0:13:19.020 --> 0:13:24.020 he's omniscient. Although it was a genuine test. Uh, he 0:13:24.020 --> 0:13:26.700 knew that humanity would fail. He could either do that, 0:13:26.700 --> 0:13:30.620 which is what he did, or, uh, he wouldn't have 0:13:30.620 --> 0:13:35.140 created anyone or anything. That's because that's not the option. 0:13:35.140 --> 0:13:40.900 Because if he had created us without the ability to fail, then, 0:13:42.290 --> 0:13:46.770 Then the result was would be that we'd be robots. 0:13:46.850 --> 0:13:50.490 So his choice was either to create us with the 0:13:50.490 --> 0:13:54.130 potential of failure or not to create the world and 0:13:54.130 --> 0:13:58.610 not to create humanity. And he chose to create the world. Why? 0:13:58.730 --> 0:14:02.050 I believe the best of all possible worlds is not 0:14:02.050 --> 0:14:05.809 a world without suffering and evil and problems. But the 0:14:05.809 --> 0:14:09.490 best of all possible worlds is the world in which 0:14:09.530 --> 0:14:15.210 God overcomes evil and suffering and and sin. And that's 0:14:15.210 --> 0:14:16.730 what the world will be when we have a new 0:14:16.730 --> 0:14:20.330 heavens and a new earth. It will be people who 0:14:20.330 --> 0:14:23.610 have put their trust in the Lord, and they will 0:14:23.650 --> 0:14:27.370 be there to love and serve him forever without the 0:14:27.370 --> 0:14:31.450 possibility of sin. But the best of all possible worlds 0:14:31.450 --> 0:14:33.450 is not a world in which there was no evil, 0:14:33.850 --> 0:14:37.050 but a world in which evil has been overcome. One 0:14:37.050 --> 0:14:40.130 of the benefits of evil, for example, is there are 0:14:40.130 --> 0:14:45.090 some things, some virtues that we would never understand, like sacrifice, 0:14:45.930 --> 0:14:49.890 dying for. You know, let's say, for example, a soldier 0:14:50.730 --> 0:14:53.810 jumps on a grenade and dies for his brigade. If 0:14:53.810 --> 0:14:59.250 there wasn't the evil of war, he wouldn't. He would not, uh, 0:14:59.250 --> 0:15:02.010 he would not give himself for other troops for his 0:15:02.050 --> 0:15:06.410 his company or for his, uh, little group of soldiers. 0:15:06.410 --> 0:15:10.970 His unit. You. Yeah. You see what I mean? Uh, 0:15:10.970 --> 0:15:15.530 I hope this helps. We're going to go to break now. Uh, and, uh, 0:15:15.530 --> 0:15:19.210 I'm really grateful that you called. I hope this helps, James. Uh, 0:15:19.210 --> 0:15:21.810 really appreciate your love for the Lord, and I. And 0:15:21.810 --> 0:15:24.530 I hope that will be the best. That you'll trust him. 0:15:24.530 --> 0:15:26.690 With that, we'll be back with more of your questions 0:15:26.690 --> 0:15:32.290 right here on open line. (877) 548-3675. Call with your question 0:15:32.290 --> 0:15:35.890 about the Bible, God or the spiritual life. This is Michael. Nick, 0:15:35.930 --> 0:15:51.640 be right back. So stay with us. Welcome back to 0:15:52.040 --> 0:15:55.080 Open Line I'm Michael Ray. Remember the old days when 0:15:55.080 --> 0:15:57.800 we took trips and we'd plot out our way with 0:15:57.800 --> 0:16:01.200 a Rand McNally road atlas? I think when we read 0:16:01.200 --> 0:16:03.560 the Bible, it would help to have a good road 0:16:03.600 --> 0:16:07.440 map also. Even when reading the New Testament, I think 0:16:07.440 --> 0:16:10.920 we can get lost. And that's why our current resource, 0:16:10.920 --> 0:16:13.480 a survey of the New Testament by Paul Benoit, is 0:16:13.480 --> 0:16:16.920 so helpful. It's a comprehensive guide that takes us on 0:16:16.920 --> 0:16:20.480 a journey from Matthew to Revelation. Revelation. It gives us 0:16:20.480 --> 0:16:23.840 a road map of the New Testament. You'll discover how 0:16:23.960 --> 0:16:28.640 each book connects to tell one great story of God's redemptive, 0:16:28.640 --> 0:16:32.760 redemptive plan. Now, if you're a regular listener to open 0:16:32.760 --> 0:16:36.400 line and you've never given a gift before, I so 0:16:36.400 --> 0:16:39.800 appreciate you listening. But I wonder if if you don't 0:16:39.800 --> 0:16:43.160 want to miss out on this excellent resource. It is 0:16:43.160 --> 0:16:45.880 a terrific tool that you can use to help you 0:16:45.880 --> 0:16:48.920 in your understanding of the word. And we want to 0:16:48.920 --> 0:16:51.400 send it to you and to anyone who gives a 0:16:51.440 --> 0:16:53.360 gift of any size to open. And we want to 0:16:53.360 --> 0:16:56.440 say thanks for your gift by sending you survey of 0:16:56.440 --> 0:16:59.160 the New Testament by Paul Benware. If you'd like to give, 0:16:59.160 --> 0:17:08.080 just call (888) 644-7122. Let me give you that number again. (888) 644-7122. 0:17:08.119 --> 0:17:11.240 Or you can go to open line radio.org. And remember 0:17:11.280 --> 0:17:14.679 ask for survey of the New Testament by Doctor Ben Ware. 0:17:15.200 --> 0:17:23.320 And we're going to talk to Liz in Ohio. Uh, 0:17:23.320 --> 0:17:26.719 how can I help you today? Liz, welcome to Open Line. 0:17:27.840 --> 0:17:30.960 Uh, hello. Hi. Yes. Thank you so much for taking 0:17:30.960 --> 0:17:34.280 my call and for sharing your love of Christ. Um, 0:17:34.320 --> 0:17:39.070 love your show. Uh, so my question is, um, are 0:17:39.070 --> 0:17:43.270 those who have died still alive in Christ? For example, 0:17:43.430 --> 0:17:46.630 I have a friend who prays the rosary to Mary. Um, 0:17:46.670 --> 0:17:48.430 can we ask them to pray for us? 0:17:50.950 --> 0:17:54.470 Anyone? Is that. Is that what you're saying? Can we 0:17:54.470 --> 0:17:57.590 ask the dead to pray for us if our. 0:17:57.630 --> 0:18:00.430 Well, I'm asking. Are are those who have died? Are 0:18:00.430 --> 0:18:02.790 they still alive in Christ? Can we, I guess, yeah. 0:18:02.830 --> 0:18:04.909 Can we ask them to pray for us? 0:18:06.550 --> 0:18:09.390 Okay. Well, I believe that people who have trusted in 0:18:09.390 --> 0:18:12.310 Jesus when they die, according to the book of Philippians, 0:18:12.310 --> 0:18:15.910 for example, it says, Paul says that when he dies, 0:18:15.910 --> 0:18:20.910 he goes to be with Christ. So obviously they're still alive. Uh, 0:18:20.910 --> 0:18:23.510 those of us who have trusted in Jesus, we immediately 0:18:23.510 --> 0:18:26.510 go to be with the Lord. Second Corinthians five says, 0:18:26.550 --> 0:18:31.390 absent from the body is present with the Lord. So 0:18:31.670 --> 0:18:37.270 point one yes, there are still alive. Point two I 0:18:37.270 --> 0:18:42.030 would say about this is I why would we presume 0:18:42.630 --> 0:18:46.470 that they can hear us if we pray to them? 0:18:46.670 --> 0:18:50.950 We're not. Do you think that they're omniscient and can 0:18:50.990 --> 0:18:54.390 hear everything that's going on on earth? It's a whole 0:18:54.590 --> 0:18:57.310 we don't know what's going on in heaven because we're 0:18:57.310 --> 0:19:01.190 not omniscient. God himself knows what's going on in heaven 0:19:01.190 --> 0:19:05.510 and on earth, but they don't become little. Deity figures, 0:19:05.510 --> 0:19:07.310 do they? In your mind? 0:19:08.150 --> 0:19:08.470 No. 0:19:09.270 --> 0:19:11.830 No. So they can't hear. You know, some people talk 0:19:11.830 --> 0:19:15.270 about Hebrews 11 where it says, since we have so 0:19:15.270 --> 0:19:18.470 great a cloud of witnesses, and so they think that 0:19:18.590 --> 0:19:21.750 people in heaven. The cloud of witnesses are watching. But 0:19:21.950 --> 0:19:24.870 if you read Hebrews 12, one says that. But it's 0:19:24.869 --> 0:19:27.510 really about the people in Hebrews 11. And the word 0:19:27.510 --> 0:19:34.460 witnesses means people who testify. Meaning that their faith testifies 0:19:34.460 --> 0:19:37.140 to us. And since we have so great a bunch 0:19:37.180 --> 0:19:40.540 a cloud of people testifying of the value of faith, 0:19:41.940 --> 0:19:44.260 that we ought to have faith as well and hold 0:19:44.260 --> 0:19:48.179 on to our faith. So, uh, I don't think it's 0:19:48.180 --> 0:19:50.500 that they can understand or hear. And then also what 0:19:50.500 --> 0:19:55.219 the Bible says in first Timothy two five. This is 0:19:55.220 --> 0:19:59.460 I think that's something that's essential for us. It says 0:19:59.460 --> 0:20:03.300 in first Timothy two five, for there is one God 0:20:04.100 --> 0:20:12.100 and one mediator also between God and man, the man Messiah, Jesus. 0:20:12.140 --> 0:20:15.580 You know, I just don't see any point in asking 0:20:15.580 --> 0:20:19.939 for anyone else to mediate for us. Uh, what do 0:20:19.940 --> 0:20:20.540 you think? 0:20:23.500 --> 0:20:27.220 I, I think it's just Jesus that I agree. 0:20:27.980 --> 0:20:31.860 Yeah. Okay. Well, uh, you know what? I don't need 0:20:31.859 --> 0:20:36.460 anyone with special standing to intervene to God. Any special 0:20:36.460 --> 0:20:40.100 friend to intervene with God. Because I have the mediator, 0:20:40.140 --> 0:20:44.100 the Lord Jesus. He's the one. It says he's our 0:20:44.100 --> 0:20:48.540 advocate with the father in first John two. Who else 0:20:48.700 --> 0:20:52.139 could I possibly want? I'm glad you agree with that, Liz. 0:20:52.500 --> 0:20:54.780 Appreciate it. Thanks for your call. I really, really do 0:20:54.780 --> 0:20:59.300 appreciate it. Thank you. Uh, we're going to talk to 0:20:59.900 --> 0:21:05.740 Sandy in Jenison, Michigan, listening on wkzg. Welcome to Open Line. Sandy, 0:21:05.740 --> 0:21:06.780 how can I help you today? 0:21:07.780 --> 0:21:10.260 Hey, Michael, it's wonderful to be able to ask you 0:21:10.260 --> 0:21:11.300 a question. Hey. 0:21:11.300 --> 0:21:14.060 We've been. Hey, can I ask you a question first? Sandy. 0:21:14.540 --> 0:21:18.060 Where's Jenison? Is it near Grand Rapids? Is it near Detroit? 0:21:18.100 --> 0:21:18.859 Where is it? 0:21:19.580 --> 0:21:22.300 It is near Grand Rapids. We are on the west 0:21:22.300 --> 0:21:27.260 side of Grand Rapids. Between. Um, yeah, Grand Rapids and Holland. 0:21:27.940 --> 0:21:31.530 Gotcha. Okay. There you go. And so. and that's the 0:21:31.530 --> 0:21:33.570 Zealand station that we have or we have a whole 0:21:33.570 --> 0:21:36.970 bunch of stations there I guess. Yeah. Yeah. Gotcha. Yes 0:21:36.970 --> 0:21:37.369 it is. 0:21:37.770 --> 0:21:40.570 Yes. Wonderful. And it's going to be a CSG as 0:21:40.570 --> 0:21:41.290 in George. 0:21:41.450 --> 0:21:43.770 So just I, I see it there. 0:21:44.090 --> 0:21:48.050 Yep. So yes. So anyway, we've been reading in Mark 0:21:48.450 --> 0:21:53.810 and in there several places Jesus cast out demons. And 0:21:53.810 --> 0:21:57.969 a mother says, here's my daughter. She's demon possessed. People 0:21:57.970 --> 0:22:02.690 recognize demon possession. And as I'm reading through this, I'm going, okay, 0:22:02.930 --> 0:22:06.050 where are the demons today? Our enemy is Satan. Right. 0:22:06.090 --> 0:22:11.450 So it stands to reason that we have demons who 0:22:11.450 --> 0:22:14.850 are possessing people. But why don't we recognize it? Or 0:22:14.850 --> 0:22:18.050 where are they? Or. I mean, is it a thing? 0:22:18.410 --> 0:22:20.010 I'm just curious. 0:22:20.770 --> 0:22:25.690 Yeah. Well, first of all, I think we see pretty 0:22:25.690 --> 0:22:30.370 much a lot of demonic activity out there. don't you think? 0:22:31.170 --> 0:22:35.169 With all the bad teaching out there and bad views, 0:22:35.210 --> 0:22:38.770 that people are thinking all sorts of bizarre thoughts? Uh, 0:22:38.770 --> 0:22:42.810 we we, uh, we see demonic doctrines of demons, so 0:22:42.810 --> 0:22:47.450 to speak, as, as Paul calls them, uh, out there, uh, 0:22:47.490 --> 0:22:51.530 in terms of demon possession. One of the there are 0:22:51.530 --> 0:22:53.410 people out there who think that every time we sin, 0:22:53.410 --> 0:22:56.970 it's because we're demonized. I don't think that's the case. 0:22:57.090 --> 0:23:00.650 I think demons have influence. Uh, but there's the flesh, 0:23:00.650 --> 0:23:05.210 and the flesh is what makes us sin. Uh, I 0:23:05.210 --> 0:23:07.570 think that if you went into a culture where there 0:23:07.570 --> 0:23:13.970 was a lot more animism, uh, and engagement with idolatry 0:23:14.850 --> 0:23:19.730 and things like that, uh, that it appears to me 0:23:19.730 --> 0:23:26.010 that there would be, uh, greater, uh, actions of of 0:23:26.609 --> 0:23:30.919 demonic possession. Okay. I have, uh, there's a man who 0:23:30.920 --> 0:23:32.159 went to be with the Lord. He used to be 0:23:32.160 --> 0:23:36.200 the chairman of the international ministries. You know, it's another 0:23:36.200 --> 0:23:39.800 word for missions department at Moody Bible Institute. Uh, he's 0:23:39.800 --> 0:23:44.159 with the Lord now. One of the best professors. Godliest 0:23:44.160 --> 0:23:52.880 men loved him. Uh, Ken, Hanna and Ken served in Nicaragua, and, 0:23:52.880 --> 0:23:57.439 I believe Guatemala. And because in those areas, there's a 0:23:57.440 --> 0:24:03.640 lot of demonic activity, a lot of syncretism with Catholicism. Uh, 0:24:03.680 --> 0:24:06.320 you know, it's syncretism is it's where they merge a 0:24:06.320 --> 0:24:11.720 lot of the syncretism. Okay, merging, uh, previous pagan beliefs 0:24:11.720 --> 0:24:17.320 and kind of putting it into, uh, they officially converted 0:24:17.320 --> 0:24:20.840 to Catholicism, but they, they brought a lot of their 0:24:20.840 --> 0:24:24.720 pagan beliefs. And in his missionary work, he said that 0:24:24.720 --> 0:24:27.960 he encountered a good deal of deal of demon possession. 0:24:29.040 --> 0:24:31.960 And that was because of the that stuff that was 0:24:31.960 --> 0:24:35.160 going on there. And it was interesting. He he said 0:24:35.160 --> 0:24:39.880 that he believed the apostles were commanded to confront demons 0:24:39.880 --> 0:24:41.920 directly in the name of Jesus, but he was not 0:24:41.920 --> 0:24:45.240 an apostle and with a capital A, and he did 0:24:45.240 --> 0:24:49.879 not do that. But what he did do was he 0:24:49.880 --> 0:24:53.159 preached the gospel and called on these people to believe. 0:24:53.320 --> 0:24:55.719 And when they believed, the demons would leave. 0:24:56.880 --> 0:24:58.359 So, ah, okay. 0:24:58.800 --> 0:25:01.679 That that was kind of an interesting insight into spiritual 0:25:01.680 --> 0:25:06.440 warfare from, uh, from Ken Hanna. But I'm not saying 0:25:06.440 --> 0:25:10.240 that there isn't demonic activity or demonic behavior today, uh, 0:25:10.240 --> 0:25:14.960 in like, North America, but it is, uh, much less 0:25:15.960 --> 0:25:20.200 because I don't think we have, uh, the kind of 0:25:20.200 --> 0:25:24.879 demon demonic activity that people are engaging in with, with, uh, 0:25:24.960 --> 0:25:28.800 Animism and and idolatry and things like that. So that's 0:25:28.800 --> 0:25:29.480 what I would say. 0:25:30.359 --> 0:25:33.240 That makes sense. Thank you. I appreciate that. 0:25:33.560 --> 0:25:35.480 Yeah. Thanks for the call. I really appreciate it. We're 0:25:35.480 --> 0:25:37.760 going to come back with the mailbag in just a 0:25:37.760 --> 0:25:41.359 bit to here's dragging it in. Uh, this is the 0:25:41.359 --> 0:25:45.160 Febc mailbag. So if you've written in had your question 0:25:45.160 --> 0:25:47.400 put in there, you might hear it right now. Stay 0:25:47.400 --> 0:26:08.320 with us. This is Michael Wright on Open Line. And 0:26:08.320 --> 0:26:11.440 we're back. It's open line with Michael Zelnick. And I 0:26:11.480 --> 0:26:14.919 am so glad that you're listening in today. Really appreciate it. 0:26:14.920 --> 0:26:19.280 And joining us right now for the Febc mailbag is 0:26:19.280 --> 0:26:22.560 to hear a now to hear, uh, I always talk 0:26:22.600 --> 0:26:26.830 about so grateful that we have a great team here 0:26:26.910 --> 0:26:29.670 at Open Line. You recently became part of the team. 0:26:29.710 --> 0:26:32.629 Can you talk about what you're doing on Open Line? 0:26:33.230 --> 0:26:38.230 Yes. I help with the producing all things, producing my 0:26:38.230 --> 0:26:41.550 work along with Tricia and a few other people in 0:26:41.550 --> 0:26:45.510 the at Moody. But essentially, we make sure that Michael, 0:26:45.510 --> 0:26:47.790 as a host, you have everything you need. We go 0:26:47.790 --> 0:26:51.070 through the questions, we talk to our listeners and get 0:26:51.070 --> 0:26:54.150 them ready to come on air. And we just keep 0:26:54.190 --> 0:26:57.190 track of the program and do all the things that 0:26:57.190 --> 0:27:00.270 are needed to keep the program running seamlessly. 0:27:00.430 --> 0:27:03.310 Yeah, and I'm so glad that you're here to do that, 0:27:03.310 --> 0:27:05.709 to hear, because I always talk about this and I 0:27:05.710 --> 0:27:07.430 say this over and over. I'm not sure people really 0:27:07.430 --> 0:27:10.390 believe me, that I really think that without this team, 0:27:10.390 --> 0:27:16.110 without you, without Omar, with without Tricia, obviously Lisa's been 0:27:16.109 --> 0:27:19.629 helping out as well. Sometimes this program could never go 0:27:19.630 --> 0:27:22.350 on the air. It's a real team thing. And. And 0:27:22.510 --> 0:27:24.830 that's what I think is so crucial about that is 0:27:24.990 --> 0:27:26.630 I really mean it too, when I talk about our 0:27:26.630 --> 0:27:30.710 kitchen table partners as being part of the team. Uh, 0:27:30.710 --> 0:27:33.230 we talk about them all the time. We get to 0:27:33.270 --> 0:27:36.510 meet them and I get letters from them, and, uh, 0:27:36.550 --> 0:27:40.830 that I so appreciate. They are people who commit to be, uh, 0:27:40.830 --> 0:27:44.869 to give once a month, every month for a year, uh, 0:27:44.869 --> 0:27:48.389 so that we can be on the air every week of, 0:27:48.390 --> 0:27:50.270 of the year. We don't miss any weeks, even if 0:27:50.270 --> 0:27:53.030 we have a backup program that we run, we're on 0:27:53.030 --> 0:27:58.390 every week. And I'm so grateful for those kitchen table partners. And, uh, 0:27:58.390 --> 0:28:00.310 one of the things that we do for the kitchen 0:28:00.310 --> 0:28:03.910 table partners is we send a Bible study moment to 0:28:03.910 --> 0:28:08.070 their mailbox. It's an audio Bible study prepared exclusively for 0:28:08.070 --> 0:28:11.590 our kitchen table partners. Listen, if you're listening and you 0:28:11.590 --> 0:28:14.230 would like to become a kitchen table partner, if you'd 0:28:14.230 --> 0:28:16.709 like to make that commitment, even though you. You may 0:28:16.710 --> 0:28:19.630 never have even given to a radio program. But this 0:28:19.630 --> 0:28:22.980 program is ministering to you and you'd like to to help. 0:28:22.980 --> 0:28:26.699 By doing that, I sure would appreciate it. All you 0:28:26.700 --> 0:28:35.460 have to do is call (888) 644-7122. (888) 644-7122. Or you just 0:28:35.460 --> 0:28:38.820 can go to open line radio.org and click on the 0:28:38.820 --> 0:28:42.420 kitchen table partner link right there. So okay it's time 0:28:42.420 --> 0:28:46.820 for the mailbag. I'm grateful for our partnership with Febc, 0:28:46.860 --> 0:28:51.459 Far Eastern Broadcast Broadcasting Company. Uh, they partner with Open 0:28:51.460 --> 0:28:56.260 Line to bring you the weekly Febc mailbag. It's a 0:28:56.300 --> 0:28:59.700 terrific organization that brings the good news to people via 0:28:59.700 --> 0:29:04.540 media and personal engagement. Check out the Febc podcast until 0:29:04.540 --> 0:29:11.820 all have heard by going to Febc. Org. Hey, Tyra. Uh, 0:29:11.820 --> 0:29:14.180 that most people won't know this, but the president of 0:29:14.220 --> 0:29:17.540 Febc at canon used to be the vice president chief 0:29:17.540 --> 0:29:22.420 operating officer of Moody Bible Institute, And, uh, he heard 0:29:22.420 --> 0:29:25.020 me teach a class once. I think it was a 0:29:25.020 --> 0:29:27.580 chapel at Moody. And he came up to me and 0:29:27.580 --> 0:29:29.140 he said, you should be on the radio. And it 0:29:29.140 --> 0:29:31.300 was because of him that I ended up going on 0:29:31.300 --> 0:29:35.780 the radio. So I love it that, uh, he's partnering 0:29:36.020 --> 0:29:39.219 having Far Eastern Broadcasting Company partner with us, because my 0:29:39.220 --> 0:29:40.780 old friend Ed Cannon is the one that got me 0:29:40.780 --> 0:29:43.300 on the radio to start with. It was it was fun. 0:29:43.940 --> 0:29:46.580 Awesome. It's so great how God orders our steps. 0:29:47.140 --> 0:29:50.140 Yeah. It's true, it's true. Well, let's go to the mailbag. 0:29:50.140 --> 0:29:51.380 What do we got here today? 0:29:51.500 --> 0:29:56.220 Yes. Thank you for emailing, um, emailing us at Open Line. 0:29:56.220 --> 0:29:57.460 The first question we have today. 0:29:57.460 --> 0:29:59.300 Is, you know what? Let's tell them. Let's tell people 0:29:59.300 --> 0:30:00.700 how to how to do this. You can go to 0:30:00.740 --> 0:30:03.860 open Line radio.org. There's a link there that says ask 0:30:03.860 --> 0:30:06.020 Michael a question. You click on that and you fill 0:30:06.020 --> 0:30:08.740 out the form and that's where your question goes. So 0:30:08.740 --> 0:30:10.740 if you're wondering how in the world did to hear 0:30:10.740 --> 0:30:14.140 or get these questions, it's not just by wondering where 0:30:14.140 --> 0:30:17.580 to mail them. It's going to to open line radio.org. 0:30:17.780 --> 0:30:19.130 Ask Michael a question. 0:30:19.410 --> 0:30:22.090 And that is exactly what Patrick did. We have Patrick 0:30:22.090 --> 0:30:26.410 from Ohio who listens through CRF. Can a person or 0:30:26.450 --> 0:30:29.410 theologian call themselves an apostle in present day? 0:30:31.250 --> 0:30:35.450 Well, let's talk about what an apostle was. An apostle 0:30:35.450 --> 0:30:41.050 is someone that saw the Lord and testified to the resurrection. 0:30:41.290 --> 0:30:48.250 It says in acts one, when they were looking to 0:30:48.290 --> 0:30:50.610 replace Judas, they said they need someone that had been 0:30:50.610 --> 0:30:55.209 with them that could testify of the resurrection. Even Paul, 0:30:55.210 --> 0:30:58.850 who wasn't one of the original 12 later on, an 0:30:58.850 --> 0:31:05.530 untimely born one. He said, uh, he said in first 0:31:05.530 --> 0:31:10.490 Corinthians nine one, am I not an apostle? Have I 0:31:10.530 --> 0:31:16.170 not seen the Lord? The requirement to be an apostle 0:31:17.250 --> 0:31:20.650 Was to testify of the resurrection. And then there were 0:31:20.650 --> 0:31:23.970 special signs. If you read the book of acts for 0:31:23.970 --> 0:31:27.410 the most part, every time there's all these unusual miracles happening, 0:31:27.890 --> 0:31:30.330 it keeps saying that these miracles were happening at the 0:31:30.370 --> 0:31:33.850 hands of the apostles. There's a reason for that. In 0:31:33.850 --> 0:31:44.810 Second Corinthians 1212 it says this. I'm turning the pages here. Uh, 0:31:44.810 --> 0:31:48.010 it says all the the signs of an apostle were 0:31:48.010 --> 0:31:51.770 performed with great endurance among you. Not only signs, but 0:31:51.770 --> 0:31:57.170 also wonders and miracles. And so what's Paul saying? That 0:31:57.170 --> 0:32:01.050 his ministry had signs and wonders and miracles. That was 0:32:01.050 --> 0:32:04.490 the proof that he was an apostle. If everyone could 0:32:04.490 --> 0:32:09.610 perform signs, wonders and miracles, then everyone would be apostles. 0:32:09.610 --> 0:32:13.210 But that's not the case. So if we're talking about 0:32:13.210 --> 0:32:15.690 an apostle with a capital A, I don't think it's 0:32:15.690 --> 0:32:20.960 Possible today. Uh, now there is a verse in Second 0:32:20.960 --> 0:32:27.280 Corinthians 823 that I believe refers to apostle with a 0:32:27.280 --> 0:32:29.520 small a. But that's not how most people, you know, 0:32:29.520 --> 0:32:32.400 you sometimes drive downtown and you see a church and 0:32:32.400 --> 0:32:38.320 it'll say it's led by apostle, you know, John Doe, whatever. Uh, 0:32:38.320 --> 0:32:41.680 and they're claiming to be an apostle with the same 0:32:41.680 --> 0:32:44.920 kind of authority that Paul and Peter had. I don't 0:32:44.920 --> 0:32:50.760 think that that's valid. But Second Corinthians 823 says, as 0:32:50.800 --> 0:32:53.840 for Titus, he is my partner and co-worker serving you. 0:32:54.600 --> 0:32:57.440 As for our brothers, these are the people on the 0:32:57.440 --> 0:33:03.160 apostolic team. They are apostles of the churches, the glory 0:33:03.160 --> 0:33:07.000 of Christ. Therefore, show them proof before the churches of 0:33:07.000 --> 0:33:09.960 your love and of our boasting about you. Here's the point. 0:33:10.760 --> 0:33:14.440 The word messengers. There is the same word as apostle, 0:33:15.320 --> 0:33:18.200 and its apostle with a small a its missionaries. That's 0:33:18.200 --> 0:33:21.240 what it means. And is it possible for people to 0:33:21.240 --> 0:33:24.200 be missionaries today to have that kind of small a 0:33:24.240 --> 0:33:28.560 missionary cross-cultural gift? Of course. But in terms of being 0:33:28.560 --> 0:33:34.000 an apostle with that capital A doing signs and wonders 0:33:34.000 --> 0:33:39.720 and miracles and testifying of having seen the risen Lord. Uh, 0:33:39.720 --> 0:33:41.520 that's not what we see today. 0:33:42.760 --> 0:33:45.280 Thank you so much for that thorough explanation. 0:33:45.880 --> 0:33:48.840 Yeah. So now, by the way, I think that's one 0:33:48.840 --> 0:33:51.000 of the things that we can look for is people 0:33:51.000 --> 0:33:53.160 with the cross-cultural gift. Those are the people that go 0:33:53.160 --> 0:33:57.000 overseas into different cultures, different places to share the gospel. 0:33:57.120 --> 0:34:02.880 So thank you. Yeah, we have Don from Indiana listening 0:34:03.000 --> 0:34:07.440 through WGN. In Genesis. Satan is referred to as a serpent, 0:34:07.440 --> 0:34:10.480 but in revelation he is referred to as a dragon. 0:34:10.640 --> 0:34:14.270 What is the difference and when did the change occur? 0:34:14.630 --> 0:34:15.109 Thank you. 0:34:16.230 --> 0:34:19.790 Well, there's no change. Satan has always been a fallen angel. 0:34:21.430 --> 0:34:23.750 He's not a serpent and he is not a dragon. 0:34:23.950 --> 0:34:28.190 Those are metaphors that are used. And they're used together. 0:34:28.590 --> 0:34:31.510 They are. It calls him in revelation 12. The serpent 0:34:31.510 --> 0:34:36.910 of old and the dragon. Uh, if you read revelation 12, 0:34:37.989 --> 0:34:41.350 they're all used at the same time. And the metaphor 0:34:41.350 --> 0:34:47.430 describes different characteristics of Satan. That's why they use. That's 0:34:47.430 --> 0:34:52.190 why you use a literary device. Like a metaphor, uh, 0:34:52.190 --> 0:34:54.589 to to give you a sense of what he is 0:34:54.590 --> 0:34:58.790 like when it talks about him. Uh, in verse nine, uh, 0:34:58.790 --> 0:35:02.069 the dragon and his angels also fought, but he could 0:35:02.070 --> 0:35:04.509 not prevail. This is verse seven now verse eight. But 0:35:04.510 --> 0:35:06.589 he could not prevail, and there was no place for 0:35:06.590 --> 0:35:09.750 them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was 0:35:09.750 --> 0:35:13.910 thrown out. The ancient serpent who is called the devil 0:35:15.230 --> 0:35:22.230 and Satan. Okay, so what is it? The dragon represents 0:35:22.230 --> 0:35:25.630 that this fallen angel that led all these other angels 0:35:25.750 --> 0:35:32.189 is fierce. The serpent indicates that he's crafty because he 0:35:32.190 --> 0:35:36.870 used that serpent to deceive Eve. He spoke through that serpent. 0:35:37.270 --> 0:35:42.589 He's called the devil. The devil means slanderer. And you 0:35:42.590 --> 0:35:46.989 could see him slander, uh, us. Uh, one of the 0:35:46.989 --> 0:35:51.790 really famous passages about that is Zechariah three, where, uh, 0:35:51.790 --> 0:35:55.790 he's seen as the Slanderer. And then Satan, our adversary. 0:35:56.190 --> 0:36:00.790 That's what it means. His name means adversary. So, uh, 0:36:00.790 --> 0:36:04.710 the there's no change. He's always who he is. Uh, 0:36:04.710 --> 0:36:07.469 it's just those metaphors that are used of him and 0:36:07.469 --> 0:36:09.670 names that reflect his character. 0:36:10.460 --> 0:36:15.259 Thank you for that. That breakdown. So Dragon represents his fierceness. 0:36:15.580 --> 0:36:19.420 He's a serpent because he's crafty as a serpent. Yeah, 0:36:19.460 --> 0:36:23.340 Slanderer as a devil. And that our Satan is our adversary. 0:36:23.460 --> 0:36:26.140 Thank you. Yeah. Yep. Very, very. 0:36:26.180 --> 0:36:26.379 Yep. 0:36:26.380 --> 0:36:27.220 That's it. Thorough. 0:36:28.260 --> 0:36:31.299 Uh, let's let's let's take one more. 0:36:31.660 --> 0:36:35.660 Okay. Cheryl Ohio WKF. She says the sin separates us 0:36:35.660 --> 0:36:40.020 from God, and she references Romans 838 through 39 and 0:36:40.020 --> 0:36:44.299 Isaiah 59 two. I can quickly read those. Isaiah 59 0:36:44.300 --> 0:36:47.580 two but your iniquities have have built barriers between you 0:36:47.580 --> 0:36:50.380 and your God, and your sins have made him hide 0:36:50.380 --> 0:36:53.100 his face from you so that he does not listen. 0:36:53.260 --> 0:36:56.620 In Romans eight, starting at verse 38, for I am persuaded. 0:36:56.620 --> 0:36:59.580 That Romans eight, by the way, is nothing will separate 0:36:59.580 --> 0:37:01.180 us from the love of God. 0:37:01.340 --> 0:37:01.940 That's it. 0:37:02.580 --> 0:37:05.900 Okay. So Isaiah 59. Our sins separate us from God. 0:37:07.140 --> 0:37:11.460 Romans eight. Uh, nothing can separate us from God. 0:37:12.219 --> 0:37:13.060 Right? Yes. 0:37:13.100 --> 0:37:19.820 And that's not really a contradiction. It's different status. Uh, Romans, uh, 0:37:19.820 --> 0:37:27.300 Isaiah 59 is, I think, talking about lost people. Uh, 0:37:27.300 --> 0:37:30.900 Isaiah 59, Romans 623 for the wages of sin is death. 0:37:30.940 --> 0:37:34.660 Death is separation. You know, when our body separates from 0:37:34.660 --> 0:37:36.980 our spirit, we're dead. When we're spiritually dead, we're separated 0:37:36.980 --> 0:37:40.660 from God. That's what Romans 623 is talking about, where 0:37:40.660 --> 0:37:43.300 it says the wages of sin is death. It's separation 0:37:43.300 --> 0:37:48.939 from God. Uh, a lost person is separated from God. 0:37:49.180 --> 0:37:52.219 But when we've trusted that Jesus died for our sins 0:37:52.219 --> 0:37:57.020 and rose again. Uh, we experience the love of God. 0:37:57.940 --> 0:38:00.380 And what Paul is saying here, no matter what sin 0:38:00.380 --> 0:38:04.779 we commit, that nothing we can do can separate us 0:38:04.780 --> 0:38:06.660 from the love of God that we have found when 0:38:06.660 --> 0:38:10.649 we put our trust in Christ Jesus our Lord. So 0:38:12.210 --> 0:38:16.890 it's different status. Uh, and uh, but the great thing 0:38:16.890 --> 0:38:19.489 is the love of God is available to everyone, even 0:38:19.489 --> 0:38:22.250 when we're separated from him. So if you are feeling 0:38:22.250 --> 0:38:29.450 separated from God, uh, then, uh, then we'll we're we're 0:38:29.489 --> 0:38:33.969 we're going to, uh, we can benefit. We can experience 0:38:33.969 --> 0:38:36.930 it by trusting in Jesus. Hey, to hear it. Thank 0:38:36.930 --> 0:38:38.690 you so much for putting that together. 0:38:38.850 --> 0:38:39.530 You're so welcome. 0:38:39.530 --> 0:38:40.170 Thank you. Michael. 0:38:40.210 --> 0:38:43.130 Answering the, uh, thanks for sending in those questions by 0:38:43.170 --> 0:38:46.650 going to npr.org and clicking on Ask Michael a question. 0:38:46.650 --> 0:38:49.010 We're going to take more questions next hour. Stay with us. 0:38:49.130 --> 0:38:52.930 More questions coming up straight ahead right here on Open 0:38:52.930 --> 0:39:05.969 Line with Michael Melnick. You know, since the war with 0:39:06.130 --> 0:39:11.730 Hamas began on October 7th, 2023. Pretty much there are 0:39:11.730 --> 0:39:15.290 people who go to Israel for compassion trips and for 0:39:15.290 --> 0:39:19.370 solidarity trips, but, uh, people seeing the land has pretty 0:39:19.370 --> 0:39:22.850 much shut down. I think it's starting up again because 0:39:22.850 --> 0:39:26.250 it's even though the war is not completely over, it's 0:39:26.250 --> 0:39:30.330 quiet in the land of Israel. So but nevertheless, there's 0:39:30.330 --> 0:39:33.009 not much touring going on. And if you always wanted 0:39:33.010 --> 0:39:35.009 to see Israel, but you haven't been able to go. 0:39:35.050 --> 0:39:38.770 Chosen People Ministries is offering a book. It's called Israel, 0:39:38.770 --> 0:39:40.770 the Land and the people. And it's even if you 0:39:40.770 --> 0:39:43.410 have been and you'd like to remember these places, it's 0:39:43.450 --> 0:39:46.130 a coffee table book with some of the best photos 0:39:46.130 --> 0:39:50.649 of Israel that you'll ever see. It shows all the 0:39:50.650 --> 0:39:54.210 beauty and history and culture of the land of Israel 0:39:54.250 --> 0:39:58.290 it covers. It has pictures of and covers from Snow Top, 0:39:58.290 --> 0:40:00.970 Mount Hermon in the north to Masada in the south, 0:40:01.010 --> 0:40:04.649 ancient Jerusalem, modern Tel Aviv. It's all there. Uh, and 0:40:04.650 --> 0:40:07.759 it has biblical verses and prayer prompts, something that will 0:40:07.760 --> 0:40:10.440 really help you. If you'd like a copy of this kitchen, 0:40:10.719 --> 0:40:14.880 this coffee table book. Uh, what you can do is 0:40:15.160 --> 0:40:18.080 you can get a free copy by just going to 0:40:18.080 --> 0:40:22.080 the Open line website. That's open line radio.org. Scroll down. 0:40:22.080 --> 0:40:25.200 You'll see a link that says a free gift from 0:40:25.200 --> 0:40:27.760 Chosen People Ministries. Click on that and you'll be taken 0:40:27.760 --> 0:40:30.640 to a page where you can sign up for Israel, 0:40:31.160 --> 0:40:34.319 the land and the people. And then also people have 0:40:34.320 --> 0:40:39.160 been asking me about a winter vacation coming up next December. 0:40:39.160 --> 0:40:43.720 I'll be teaching a Bible study, or actually just teaching 0:40:43.719 --> 0:40:48.200 through the entire book of Daniel on a Caribbean cruise. Uh, 0:40:48.200 --> 0:40:50.960 it's it's just going to be a great time. If 0:40:50.960 --> 0:40:54.759 you're interested in, in joining us next December on a 0:40:54.760 --> 0:40:57.840 tall ship. Uh, just like the kind that the apostle 0:40:57.840 --> 0:41:00.759 Paul would have gone on. Just go to our website, 0:41:01.360 --> 0:41:03.600 open line radio.org. Scroll down and go to the bottom 0:41:03.760 --> 0:41:06.719 where it says my personal web page. You can click 0:41:06.719 --> 0:41:09.000 on that and it'll take you to where you need 0:41:09.000 --> 0:41:15.319 to find out about that Caribbean cruise next December. Uh, well, 0:41:15.320 --> 0:41:16.560 we're going to go right back to the phones. We're 0:41:16.560 --> 0:41:19.600 going to talk to Andre in Clinton, New York, listening 0:41:19.600 --> 0:41:21.600 on the app. I love Clinton, New York. I'm so 0:41:21.600 --> 0:41:24.080 glad you're calling Andre. How can I. 0:41:24.080 --> 0:41:25.680 Help you today? 0:41:25.680 --> 0:41:26.160 Good. 0:41:26.840 --> 0:41:30.840 Good. Um, I got a question here from first John five, 0:41:31.239 --> 0:41:34.880 verse 16, and it says, if you see any brother 0:41:34.880 --> 0:41:37.560 or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, 0:41:38.120 --> 0:41:40.759 you should pray and God will give them life. I 0:41:40.760 --> 0:41:44.000 refer to those who sin does not lead to death. 0:41:44.040 --> 0:41:46.800 There is a sin that leads to death and I 0:41:46.800 --> 0:41:48.280 want to know what that sin is. 0:41:49.239 --> 0:41:57.759 There are kinds of sin that lead to death. For example, uh, 0:41:57.760 --> 0:42:03.070 in first Corinthians 11 it talks about taking the Lord's 0:42:03.070 --> 0:42:08.029 Supper unworthily. And it said, for this reason some of 0:42:08.030 --> 0:42:13.230 you are sick. And some of you even sleep. That's 0:42:13.230 --> 0:42:17.069 a metaphor for death, for being dead. And so some 0:42:17.110 --> 0:42:20.350 have died. And so clearly taking the Lord's Supper in 0:42:20.350 --> 0:42:24.469 an unworthy manner. That's in First Corinthians 1130. This is 0:42:24.469 --> 0:42:26.990 why many are sick and ill among you, and many 0:42:26.989 --> 0:42:34.390 have fallen asleep. Uh, and and, uh, so there we go. 0:42:34.430 --> 0:42:38.350 And it's linked here in verse 32. When we are judged, 0:42:38.350 --> 0:42:44.110 we are disciplined by the Lord. So a form of discipline, 0:42:44.150 --> 0:42:47.950 you know, the Lord corrects us. And sometimes the sin 0:42:48.190 --> 0:42:52.790 is so extravagant that he takes us home. That's what 0:42:52.790 --> 0:42:57.109 he does. That's not that we're lost. But. But he 0:42:57.110 --> 0:42:57.950 takes us home. 0:42:57.989 --> 0:43:00.469 Inadvertent sins are like, say somebody slip and say a 0:43:00.469 --> 0:43:01.270 curse word. 0:43:02.110 --> 0:43:02.430 You know. 0:43:02.469 --> 0:43:04.030 No, it's not talking about that. 0:43:04.390 --> 0:43:04.710 No. 0:43:06.190 --> 0:43:09.350 It's talking about. This is something that where they denied 0:43:09.350 --> 0:43:15.549 the they trampled underfoot the the the significance of the 0:43:15.550 --> 0:43:18.670 Lord's Supper by abusing it. That's what was going on 0:43:18.670 --> 0:43:25.190 in first Corinthians 11. So there, there are very serious 0:43:25.270 --> 0:43:30.190 sins that, uh, if a person doesn't God, God brings us, 0:43:30.230 --> 0:43:32.029 you know, kind of deals with us and tries to 0:43:32.030 --> 0:43:35.669 bring us closer. But ultimately, and I don't know what 0:43:35.670 --> 0:43:38.630 the point is, but what the Lord does is he 0:43:38.670 --> 0:43:42.109 he brings us, he brings us home. And what John 0:43:42.110 --> 0:43:43.950 is saying is, you know, pray for people in sin. 0:43:43.950 --> 0:43:45.509 But there are some times when you see someone on 0:43:45.510 --> 0:43:48.230 the verge of death that will take their repentance in 0:43:48.230 --> 0:43:51.510 James five, I think that's what it's talking about. When 0:43:51.790 --> 0:43:54.670 you call for the elders and the person who they 0:43:54.670 --> 0:43:58.710 pray for, his sins are forgiven. Not only is he 0:43:58.830 --> 0:44:01.380 restored to Restored to health, but his sins are forgiven. 0:44:01.420 --> 0:44:04.060 That's not just normal illness. It appears in that context 0:44:04.100 --> 0:44:06.700 that it's an illness caused by sin. 0:44:07.500 --> 0:44:09.260 Okay, I understand. Thank you. 0:44:09.860 --> 0:44:10.220 Okay. 0:44:10.620 --> 0:44:11.980 Great. Thanks, Andre. 0:44:12.300 --> 0:44:19.540 Have a great day. We're going to talk next with, uh, akpene. Uh, 0:44:19.540 --> 0:44:22.620 in Greenville, South Carolina. Did I say your name right? 0:44:23.460 --> 0:44:26.540 Yes you did. Michael, thank you very much for taking 0:44:26.540 --> 0:44:27.180 my call. 0:44:28.020 --> 0:44:28.380 Sure. 0:44:28.900 --> 0:44:32.020 Um, why don't you find out in Matthew four, verse 0:44:32.020 --> 0:44:36.660 eight through nine, when Satan was tempting the Lord Jesus 0:44:36.980 --> 0:44:40.299 and told him he was, you know, he would give 0:44:40.300 --> 0:44:43.580 him all the kingdoms of the world if he kneeled 0:44:43.620 --> 0:44:47.860 down and worship him. My question is, how can Satan 0:44:47.860 --> 0:44:53.100 give something that doesn't belong to him? I, in my understanding, 0:44:53.100 --> 0:44:56.819 the kingdoms of the world doesn't belong to Satan. It 0:44:56.820 --> 0:45:00.299 belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ. So how can you 0:45:00.340 --> 0:45:02.420 give something that doesn't belong to him? 0:45:03.100 --> 0:45:05.500 Well, who is the God of this world right now? 0:45:07.460 --> 0:45:08.020 Satan? 0:45:08.540 --> 0:45:13.700 Yeah. Uh, the Lord Jesus is ultimately will rule all 0:45:13.700 --> 0:45:22.740 the nations and rule over everything. But truth to tell, uh, 0:45:22.739 --> 0:45:30.060 he what Satan is offering him is to bypass the cross. Bypass, uh, 0:45:30.060 --> 0:45:36.460 the resurrection bypass. The Ascension bypass, the, uh, sitting at 0:45:36.460 --> 0:45:39.300 the right hand of the father and waiting. He says, 0:45:39.820 --> 0:45:42.859 I'll give you everything. Now you just worship me. You 0:45:42.860 --> 0:45:45.899 don't have to go through all this painful stuff or 0:45:45.900 --> 0:45:49.700 this patient stuff. Right now, I can make you the 0:45:49.700 --> 0:45:53.859 king of this world. You don't have to wait. Uh, 0:45:53.860 --> 0:45:57.570 but you. And you won't have to go through suffering. Uh, 0:45:57.570 --> 0:46:00.130 that's why it was a temptation. Does that make sense? 0:46:01.370 --> 0:46:03.690 Yeah. It does. Okay. Yeah. Okay. 0:46:03.730 --> 0:46:04.089 But he. 0:46:04.330 --> 0:46:04.810 But he did. 0:46:04.810 --> 0:46:06.969 Wait. So thank God he did. Wait. 0:46:07.050 --> 0:46:07.370 Thanks for. 0:46:07.370 --> 0:46:10.370 Your call. God, I appreciate it. Okay. Thank you. Have 0:46:10.370 --> 0:46:10.890 a good day. 0:46:11.530 --> 0:46:14.089 You too. That's the first hour. Everyone so glad that 0:46:14.090 --> 0:46:15.089 we were together. But we're going. 0:46:15.130 --> 0:46:15.930 To. 0:46:15.969 --> 0:46:18.450 Stay together. Keep listening. I hope the second hour of 0:46:18.450 --> 0:46:21.370 Open Line is coming up on most of these stations. 0:46:21.530 --> 0:46:23.570 If your station doesn't carry it, you can always listen 0:46:23.570 --> 0:46:26.089 on the Moody Radio app. You can listen online. You 0:46:26.090 --> 0:46:29.650 can get the podcast. Uh, be sure to listen to 0:46:29.690 --> 0:46:31.529 those if you can't get it, but most of you 0:46:31.530 --> 0:46:34.330 will be listening during the break. Check out our web page. 0:46:34.330 --> 0:46:36.810 It's got all the links you're looking for, including a 0:46:36.810 --> 0:46:39.049 link to my personal web page, as well as how 0:46:39.050 --> 0:46:42.770 to become a kitchen table partner or get our current resource. 0:46:42.770 --> 0:46:46.130 The Bible study across America will continue in just a moment, 0:46:46.130 --> 0:46:49.410 so stay with us. Open line with Doctor Michael Melnick 0:46:49.410 --> 0:46:52.850 is a production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody 0:46:52.850 --> 0:46:54.090 Bible Institute.