S1: We're all called to fulfill the Great Commission. So what
S1: does it take to be a great commission follower of Jesus?
S1: Stay with me. We'll talk about that in just a moment. Hello, friends.
S1: Welcome to Open Line with Michael Dolnick. This is Moody
S1: Radio's Bible study across America. My name is Michael Dolnick.
S1: I'm the academic dean at Moody Bible Institute, also professor
S1: of Jewish studies and Bible there. And we are together
S1: now live sitting around the radio kitchen table taking your
S1: questions about the Bible, God and the spiritual life. If
S1: you have a question and you'd like to call, here's
S1: the phone number. Write it down (877) 548-3675. Let me give
S1: that to you again. 483675. Always a little clue. People
S1: wonder how do I get through? How do I get
S1: my my question on the air? The best thing to
S1: do is call at the beginning of the program, because
S1: that's when the lines are really open. So now's the
S1: time to give me a call. (877) 548-3675. Tricia McMillan is
S1: in the producer's chair. Chris Siegert is our tech guy
S1: today and tiara is answering the phones now. Time to
S1: go get yourself a cup of coffee. Open your Bible.
S1: We're about to study the scriptures together. Uh, this week,
S1: Eve and I will be leaving for a tour of
S1: the journeys of Paul. And in fact, uh, Chris Seeger
S1: is going along to do the tech stuff that we need.
S1: So Chris and will be leaving as well. And it
S1: made me think that one place we're going to go
S1: that I have never been before is the city of Miletus.
S1: It's an ancient city. It's, uh. Actually, the only time
S1: I've ever been there is by book. I read the
S1: book of acts, and it's mentioned in acts 20. Paul
S1: was heading back to Jerusalem. He had the elders from
S1: the congregation at Ephesus meet him there on April 30th
S1: through May 2nd, AD 57. This is about 25 years
S1: after he or 20 years, I'd say 20 some years
S1: after he came to faith in Jesus, he came to
S1: know the Lord in the year 35. So he's there
S1: to say farewell to them. He had spent three years
S1: in Ephesus, and now he was going back to Jerusalem.
S1: He was going to challenge them in their leadership roles
S1: by reflecting on his ministry among them. And in this
S1: meeting he reviewed his own legacy. And I want to
S1: focus on just one verse, not all that he did there,
S1: but there's one verse that Paul used to describe his
S1: own experience, his own perspective as a great commission follower
S1: of Jesus. It's in acts 2021. This gives us a
S1: great model for what does it mean for us, each
S1: of us, to become a great commission follower of Jesus?
S1: Here's what he said in acts 20, verse 21. He
S1: said of his ministry in Ephesus, I testified to both
S1: Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in
S1: our Lord Jesus. This is what the Apostle Paul said.
S1: That was his legacy for his time in Ephesus. I
S1: believe it was his legacy for his entire ministry, some
S1: 25 years or 22 years at this point. And if
S1: we're to be great commission followers of Jesus, just like Paul,
S1: first of all, we need to expand our vision. I
S1: love what Paul says process here. I testified to both
S1: Jews and Greeks. The reason I say we need to
S1: expand our vision. Many people would think that. What's Paul
S1: talking about? I was talking about the whole world at
S1: that time and still today, really, when we talk tactically,
S1: what does the Bible say about what? What people what
S1: are the peoples the world consists of? It consists of
S1: the Jewish people and the Gentiles, the rest of the world.
S1: Paul says he testified to Jews and Gentiles, Jews and Greeks.
S1: And I think it's significant. Here's Paul, the apostle to
S1: the Gentiles. He never forgot his own people. Everywhere he went,
S1: he talked to Jewish people. He never forgot his own people.
S1: And that's crucial. A lot of times people say, well,
S1: Jewish people, they're not so open to hearing about Jesus. And, uh,
S1: they're somewhat resistant. And so, you know, go find some
S1: people that would be more open. But the truth of
S1: the matter is, they were the Jewish people weren't so
S1: open to Paul, But he never forgot them. He loved them.
S1: He cared for them. He proclaimed the good news to them.
S1: But also, here's this Pharisee, this Hebrew of Hebrews. He
S1: never forgot the Gentiles. He says he testified to Greeks.
S1: He talked. He understood his calling everywhere he went. He
S1: didn't set up obstacles. He didn't make it harder for
S1: for Gentiles. In fact, he made it really clear for
S1: Gentiles that they needed to put their faith in Jesus
S1: as well. And so he testified to both Jews and Greeks.
S1: You know, here's what is so important about our great
S1: Commission vision. We have to believe that everyone, everyone we meet,
S1: everyone we encounter, really needs to know Jesus. I will
S1: tell you the most surprising aspect of my ministry many
S1: years serving, particularly reaching Jewish people with. The good news is,
S1: I never hesitated to talk to people who weren't Jewish
S1: about the Lord. Yes, this is my calling. I tried
S1: to direct my attention to reaching Jewish people for many,
S1: many years, uh, with, uh, with Jewish ministry leading a
S1: messianic congregation. The biggest surprise for me was one of
S1: the people that I prayed with to receive the Lord
S1: back in that messianic congregation was an Iranian Muslim of
S1: all things. It surprised me because God brought this person
S1: to my path. Uh, even I loved her. And I
S1: remember the day that the morning I spoke on John 20,
S1: when Thomas confesses, my Lord and my God, and falls
S1: at the feet of Jesus. After that message, this Iranian
S1: Muslim woman came up to me and said, Michael, I'm ready.
S1: And she trusted the Lord with me. We can't we
S1: can't narrow our vision so much that we're only going
S1: to reach one people, one group, one kind know to
S1: be a great commission believer. We testify to all Jews
S1: and Greeks, Muslims, Hindus. Doesn't matter what their background. Indians,
S1: South American, whatever it is, we're going to bring the
S1: good news to everyone. That's what it means to be
S1: a great commission follower of Jesus. Secondly, we need to
S1: simplify our message. I think it's so crucial that we
S1: simplify what we say. What does Paul say? He testified
S1: to Jews and Greeks. Verse 21 says about repentance toward
S1: God and faith in our Lord Jesus. He had a
S1: very simple message. I just want to say repentance and
S1: faith are two sides of the same coin. Repentance means
S1: that we're turning away from what we used to count on,
S1: what we used to rely on for our relationship with
S1: God and or whatever, for life or significance, whatever it
S1: is that we used to trust in. We're turning away
S1: from it, and instead we're turning to the Lord. To
S1: the Lord Jesus. Our faith is in him. Our trust
S1: is in him. So what does it mean? It means
S1: that we're turning away from that which we used to trust,
S1: and turning to the one we will trust. We will
S1: trust that Jesus died for our sins, taking our punishment,
S1: and was raised again, uh uh, proving that he is
S1: indeed God. That's that's what that message is. Uh, it's
S1: two sides of the same coin turning away from that
S1: which we used to rely on, and turning to the one,
S1: the Lord Jesus, who died for us and rose again.
S1: That's the message. I think too often we add stuff
S1: to it. Oh, you have to really, uh, commit your life.
S1: So you're going to try and grow spiritually? Yeah, I
S1: think that will happen. But not when you trust the Lord.
S1: It's only afterwards. Uh, and then, of course, people want
S1: to say, well, if you are sincere enough. Well, let
S1: the Lord judge that. What we do is we simplify
S1: the message. We don't have to have people prove it
S1: to us. We just have to invite them to trust
S1: in the Lord Jesus. Turn from what they used to trust,
S1: repentance and then faith. Two sides of the same coin.
S1: Simplify the message. I often think what will be my
S1: legacy in life? I'm getting to the age now where
S1: I start thinking about that, and I also think about
S1: what will be your legacy. Let me tell you, I
S1: think the most important legacy we can leave is to
S1: be great commission followers of Jesus, just like Paul the Apostle,
S1: that we will have this commitment to reach all people
S1: with the with the with the simple message of faith
S1: in the good news of Jesus, the Messiah. Well, I
S1: hope you'll be praying for us as we head off
S1: to the journeys of Paul. We're going to have some great, uh,
S1: couple of, uh, guest hosts for the next two weeks
S1: while I'm away. Steve Sanchez from Moody Bible Institute, and
S1: Mike Fabares, who is the pastor of Compass Bible Church
S1: in Orange County, California. So that's what we're going to do. And, uh, uh, Hazel,
S1: we're going to talk with you first calling from the
S1: Grand Rapids area. Uh, listening to Wndb. Welcome to Open Line, Hazel.
S1: How can I help you?
S2: Well. Thank you. It's a pleasure to be on it. Um,
S2: I have a question that I've never heard anyone, um, ask,
S2: but perhaps you have. I have Bibles from when I
S2: was a teenager, and I'm 89 at this point, and
S2: I just don't know what to do with them. Their
S2: worn out pages are falling out, but I just like
S2: old friends.
S1: And. And you don't want to throw them away, right?
S2: No. You're right.
S1: That's right. Yeah, I don't either. Not with my old Bibles. Uh,
S1: you know what? What? I think Judaism has a great legacy.
S1: What we have in Judaism is, uh, sort of a burial, uh,
S1: place called a geniza. And, uh, Jewish people take old,
S1: worn out Torah scrolls and sacred books, and they put
S1: them in this special room that's like a burial place
S1: for unused sacred scriptures. And I think that that would
S1: be I wish we had those. But I think the
S1: best thing to do, my advice to you would be,
S1: is to contact the Bible League. And the Bible League
S1: accepts old worn out Bibles and finds use uses for them.
S1: So I don't. And you may have to pack them
S1: up and mail them to the Bible League. I would
S1: contact them and find out what the Bible League. Uh,
S1: they they have tremendous use. That's. My wife and I
S1: were in the process of moving out of our house.
S1: We're packing up our boxes. I found Bibles from 52
S1: years ago for me. And I know I'll never read
S1: that Bible again. It's kind of bent and fallen out.
S1: And like you say, pages are loose. I'm contacting the
S1: Bible League and that's where I'm going to bring them, so. Okay. Hazel. Okay, great. Yeah.
S1: Thank you. Thanks so much for your call. We're going
S1: to take a break here. Remember, you're listening to Open Line.
S1: Now's the time to call with your question about the Bible,
S1: God or the spiritual life. The phone number (877) 548-3675. Call
S1: with your question. I'm looking forward to speaking with you. Uh,
S1: you're going to be we're going to be right back.
S1: My name is Michael Redlich. Stay right there. This is
S1: open line. Welcome back to Open Line. I am so excited.
S1: Michael Dolnick here. In case you're wondering, who is this person?
S1: It's Michael Dolnick. Uh, so, so often I'm always excited
S1: about our current resource, whatever the resource is, but I
S1: am doubly excited about our current resource. It starts today.
S1: It is a terrific book. You know, people tell me
S1: all the time that they would like to read the Bible,
S1: but they kind of struggle to to get understanding what
S1: to know what to look for. It's I wish I
S1: were better at reading the Bible. Well, my friend and
S1: fellow Moody Professor Jim Coakley has produced a book called
S1: 14 Fresh Ways to Enjoy the Bible. It's such an
S1: enlightening book. It reveals some really simple techniques to understand
S1: biblical authors, and it gives us a real fresh lens
S1: for viewing the scriptures. I don't believe you'll be disappointed.
S1: This book is just a little book, but man, it's
S1: won awards and it's fairly new. I love this book.
S1: In fact, I looked at it recently because we are
S1: offering it and the very when I opened it, the
S1: first endorsement was me because I loved this book even
S1: before it was published. And I said, I am thrilled
S1: to endorse this book, and I am so glad that
S1: we were able to obtain it so that we can
S1: offer it. If you give a gift of any size,
S1: we want to say thank you by sending you a
S1: copy of 14 Fresh Ways to enjoy the Bible. You
S1: won't regret it. This will really, really help you. And
S1: the way to to get your copy is send a
S1: gift of any size. Just feel as God leads you
S1: and then we will say thanks by sending you this
S1: gift of appreciation. 14 Fresh Ways to Enjoy the Bible.
S1: Here's the number to call (888) 644-7122. Or you can go
S1: to Openline radio.org and you can give that way as well.
S1: But remember ask for 14 fresh ways to enjoy the Bible. Uh,
S1: we're going to speak with Louise. Uh, on I love
S1: the name of this town. Mentor on the lake. Mentor
S1: on the lake, uh, in Ohio. Hey, Louise, welcome to
S1: Open Line. How can I help you?
S3: Uh. Thank you. This is, uh. Well, I have a problem.
S3: My daughter has been a long time Christian, but she's
S3: on the internet a lot. And now she believes that
S3: the that Israel was the church in the Old Testament
S3: and not now in the New Testament. And she sent
S3: me six pages of a, a book by a man
S3: named Stephen Sizer. Um, and it's called Zion's Christian Soldiers.
S3: Have you ever heard of him?
S1: Oh, yes. Anyway.
S3: Anyway, she sent me these six pages and I have
S3: read them. I haven't said anything to her, and she
S3: hasn't asked me. And I don't want to get into
S3: an argument with her. But can you help me to, uh,
S3: understand or give me something in case she brings it
S3: up that I can read? Yeah, sure.
S1: Well, first of all, I think we need to know
S1: who Stephen Sizer is. Uh, he's he's endorsed Nazis. Uh,
S1: he has, uh, endorsed Hezbollah, Hamas terrorist groups. And in fact, ultimately,
S1: he was removed from his pulpit. He was a Church
S1: of England, uh, Anglican pastor in England. He was removed
S1: from his pulpit by the Anglican Church for his blatant and, uh,
S1: really terrible anti-Semitism. So, uh, so he's not exactly a
S1: fair witness on this matter. He he uses replacement theology
S1: as a justification for his hatred of Jewish people and
S1: of the state of Israel. So, uh, uh, it's unfortunate
S1: I've encountered him. I've actually debated him once. Uh, he's, uh, he's.
S1: But he's been ultimately he was removed from his his church,
S1: from his position because of anti-Semitism and was chastened by
S1: the Anglican church. Uh. Mm. Uh, the best book. And
S1: this is the book I would recommend everyone read that's
S1: interested in this question. It's written by Michael Vlock v
S1: l a c h. Michael Vlock. And I'll try and
S1: get a page.
S3: Okay.
S1: Uh, it's written by Michael Vlock. And, uh, and Michael
S1: Vlock wrote a book called Has the Church Replaced Israel?
S1: It's a very biblical book. You know, Michael is a
S1: friend of mine, and I became friends with him because
S1: I read this book. And I went and sought him out.
S1: And I told him, uh, Michael, this is the only
S1: book I've ever read that I wish I had written.
S1: It's so good. So, uh. But I'm glad he wrote it.
S1: He did a great job. And it's a it's a wonderful,
S1: wonderful book. I acquired it when I used to teach
S1: biblical interpretation at Moody. It was my collateral book that
S1: I always required, because it's a very important discussion about
S1: how do we interpret the Bible. And and that was
S1: the collateral reading I required. I recommend it strongly. Has
S1: the church replaced Israel by Michael Vlock v l A,
S1: C H and Tricia, I know you're you're listening in here.
S1: If you could find that and post it on Facebook
S1: that would be great. Uh, Michael Bloch, has the church
S1: replaced Israel? And I think that, you know, I always
S1: like to be positive and not talk about people that are, uh,
S1: critical of of what the Bible says. But, uh, here's
S1: the big difference, I think, between the view that Michael
S1: Bloch proposes versus the view that says the church has
S1: replaced Israel. What one view, says Michael Bloch's view, is
S1: we read the Bible progressively, so it starts starting in
S1: Genesis and all the way through the New Testament. We
S1: allow the Old Testament to inform our understanding of the new,
S1: what the other view says. This replacement theology, it says,
S1: we're going to take the New Testament, and we're going
S1: to read it back in the Old Testament. And we're
S1: going to say, there's a church in the Old Testament,
S1: and the church was Israel, but today the church is
S1: not Israel. Uh, but there is no the church began.
S1: Remember what the Lord Jesus said in Matthew 16. He said,
S1: I will future tense build my church. I will build
S1: my church. Uh, when did he start building that church?
S1: Not in the Old Testament. He started building it. Jew
S1: and Gentile being made one in the Messiah. Uh, in
S1: at the book of acts, chapter two at Pentecost. That's
S1: when the church began. So we don't want to read
S1: the New Testament back into the old. We want to
S1: read the Old Testament as the background and understanding for
S1: the new. That's progressive revelation. So anyway, thank you, Louise,
S1: for your call. And be sure to get a copy
S1: of Michael Bloch's Has the Church Replaced Israel? Okay.
S3: It is from Moody.
S1: Uh, no, it's B and H publishers.
S3: Oh B and H publishers.
S1: Mhm. It's, uh, Michael is not a Southern Baptist, but
S1: that's a Southern Baptist publishing house.
S4: Okay.
S1: Okay.
S3: All right. Thank you very.
S1: Much. Thank you for your call, Louise. Appreciate it. We're
S1: going to talk to Esmeralda in Houston, Texas, listening on
S1: the Moody Radio app. So glad you have the Moody
S1: Radio app. If, uh. Yes, tell your friends about it.
S1: All of you listening on the radio. Uh, you know Esmeralda,
S1: you found us. Did you used to live in a
S1: moody area where there was a moody station?
S5: Actually, yes. I lived in Chicago for three years in
S5: the early 2000. So that's how I knew about y'all. So.
S1: Oh.
S5: That's great. You don't have y'all down here. I, of course,
S5: had to download the app. So, you.
S1: Know, we live in Chicago. My wife listens on the
S1: Moody Radio app because we don't for some reason, in
S1: our neighborhood it's really bad reception. So she always listens
S1: on the on the app too. So funny.
S5: Oh, awesome. Yeah. Well, Doctor Rideout, the reason I called
S5: because I actually I meant to ask this question last week,
S5: but I called too late. But and I've had this
S5: question on my mind all week to ask you is one.
S5: It's kind of like a two fold question. Why doesn't
S5: the Bible describe Jesus physical appearance? I'm just. And this,
S5: you know, I've missed something. Or do you? I mean,
S5: would you have any insight on that?
S1: Well, first of all, I would say anytime I ask,
S1: why doesn't the Bible include something? I have to believe
S1: that the Bible gives us everything we need. And so obviously,
S1: if we don't have everything we're looking for, you know,
S1: one of the things that D.L. Moody used to say
S1: is God didn't give us the scriptures to satisfy our curiosity.
S1: He gave us the scriptures to transform our lives. And
S1: so so we have a lot of curious questions. And
S1: and yet, you know, if God doesn't think that's important,
S1: then he's not going to give us the information. Who
S1: knows what people would have done if they had a
S1: detailed description of the Lord Jesus? We don't have a
S1: lot of you know, we know that that David was
S1: ruddy faced and handsome and we we don't have a
S1: whole lot of descriptions. You know, we have from church
S1: history that the Apostle Paul was short and bald, which
S1: gives me hope, you know, because I'm not exactly tall.
S5: Now that you mention that, I heard a preacher. I
S5: wish I could remember who it was, but it was
S5: a long time ago. Who said that? More than likely,
S5: Jesus Christ probably wasn't that good looking, that he maybe
S5: even resembled kind of what you just said about Paul. So,
S5: I don't know. I'm just curious because and this also
S5: came up because I saw something about the Shroud of
S5: Turin lately. Yeah.
S1: Well, you know, again, that's not the Bible. Uh, Esmeralda,
S1: that's not the Bible. The Shroud of Turin. I don't
S1: have to worry about the Shroud of Turin. So let
S1: me let me give you one verse, though. And I
S1: think people misread it because they want to read it
S1: and to say something that it doesn't say. Here's what
S1: Isaiah 53 verse two says. It's, uh, it's a prophecy
S1: of the Messiah. And it says he will grow up
S1: before him like a young plant and like a root
S1: out of dry ground. He doesn't have an impressive form
S1: or majesty that we should look at him. No appearance
S1: that we should desire him. So people say from that
S1: that somehow the Lord Jesus wasn't attractive or that he
S1: was somehow ugly or something like that. That's not what
S1: that's saying. What that verse is saying is that the
S1: Lord Jesus looked like an ordinary man. He didn't look
S1: like a royal figure. He didn't have a lot of charisma.
S1: He didn't look like, uh, Cary Grant or one of
S1: those famous Hollywood actors that just looked, uh, outstanding. And
S1: he just looked like a regular guy. That's the point
S1: that this is making. It has more to do with
S1: his bearing than his, uh, actual physical features. And so
S1: we have to be careful when people say, oh, he
S1: was not good looking. No, he was ordinary looking. And
S1: of course, that's because he represents everyone. And also he
S1: came sort of, as I would call him, Clark Kent,
S1: you know, ordinary, not like Superman. And that's what the
S1: answer is. Anyway, thanks for your call. We're going to
S1: come right back with the mailbag, so don't go away.
S1: This is open line with Michael Ray Melnick. Welcome back
S1: to Open Line. So glad that you are listening in
S1: on this Saturday morning. We're having a great time around
S1: the world studying the scriptures. Uh, I'm really, really grateful
S1: to Far Eastern Broadcasting Company because what they have done
S1: is they, uh, partner with Open Line and Moody. Moody
S1: radio to bring you the weekly Febc mailbag. Even, uh,
S1: even weeks when we don't have a mailbag. But but
S1: especially on the weeks that we have the mailbag, we're
S1: really grateful for them. Uh, they, uh, they are doing
S1: so much to reach the world through media and through
S1: personal touch of people talking to people. But their media
S1: ministry is having a tremendous impact, because if you'd like
S1: to learn more about their, uh, their ministry all around
S1: the world, just go to their website, febc. Org and
S1: click on their podcast. Until all I've heard, I think
S1: you're going to be really encouraged by that. Uh, and
S1: have a better understanding of how God is reaching people
S1: through febc. And joining me right now with the Febc
S1: mailbag in her hand is Tricia McMillan. Hey, Tricia. Hello. So, uh,
S1: you're going to be here holding the fort for the
S1: next couple of weeks while I'm, uh, traveling the world. Huh?
S6: Oh, yes. We're we're we're excited to hear when you
S6: get back. Yeah. On the things that you saw. Um,
S6: but we're excited. We'll have, um, Doctor Steve Sanchez, who
S6: was here this summer with us a little bit filling in,
S6: and then, uh, doctor Mike Faber is the next week. Yeah. So?
S6: So it'll be good.
S1: Yeah. Uh, the thing I, I was looking for someone like.
S1: Like doctor Mike, uh, fibers, uh, to fill in for
S1: me just so that we wouldn't have to only rely
S1: on one person, you know, but when I'm away. But
S1: one of the things I was looking for is someone
S1: that's unafraid and will be willing to take questions and
S1: unafraid to say, I don't know. Which is, I think,
S1: the first. Yeah. It's not just unafraid to take the question,
S1: but unafraid to say, well, maybe I have to do
S1: some more research on that one. Yes. And, uh, so
S1: I found another guy from Brooklyn.
S7: So.
S1: Steve. That's it. That's the.
S7: That's the main reason we picked him.
S1: Yeah. That's right. We have the association of both being
S1: from Brooklyn.
S7: And of.
S6: Teaching at Moody Bible Institute.
S7: That's right.
S1: And have and also we both went to Dallas Theological Seminary.
S1: We've got a lot of contacts. Yeah. So there we go.
S1: So anyway, uh, well, uh, what have we got here?
S1: What kind of questions?
S6: Okay, well, one thing I do want to say, we,
S6: as part of Moody Bible Institute, we have there's a
S6: devotional put out every month called today in the word.
S6: And I noticed last month that we had they studied
S6: the book of job, and we had several questions that
S6: came in about the book of Job. And this month
S6: they're studying the book of Ecclesiastes. And so we have
S6: a couple questions from Ecclesiastes. And so I love that
S6: people are studying the Bible and reading the Bible. Um,
S6: but if you detect a theme that is part of why. Gotcha.
S6: That's a little bit of the background. So the first
S6: two questions are from the book of Ecclesiastes.
S7: Okay.
S6: So the first one is, um, from Jane in Illinois.
S6: She listens to WMI and she said in one of
S6: the devotionals, the writer references the teacher's allusion teacher being
S6: the author of Ecclesiastes, an allusion to the Book of
S6: Genesis based on Ecclesiastes two one through 11. And she
S6: checked her moody Bible commentary and didn't see this, and
S6: so was wondering, which is not exhaustive. When you look,
S6: when you read a commentary, they are not exhaustive, but
S6: they do try and answer some of the common questions. Um,
S6: is the passage Ecclesiastes two one through 11 an allusion
S6: to creation in Genesis?
S1: Well, it seems to me when I look at it,
S1: it says there is it's a very distant allusion, but
S1: there is an allusion. Uh, it talks about the sun
S1: rises and the sun sets. Uh, it says, uh, streams
S1: flow to the sea. Yet the sea is never full.
S1: Streams are flowing to the place. And they flow there again. Uh,
S1: what he is saying is he's really talking about that
S1: these things have existed since creation, and nothing has changed
S1: about them since that time. So the main emphasis is
S1: the uniformity of the world since creation. So it alludes
S1: in a distant way to creation because it mentions, uh, the,
S1: the wind, it mentions the sun rising, it mentions the
S1: streams and the sea, which are all there because the
S1: Lord made them in Genesis. So that's the illusion. But
S1: really it's more talking about since creation, things remain stable
S1: and unchanged. There's nothing new under the sun, is what
S1: he's saying.
S7: Okay.
S6: Because he's talking about enlarging and growing gardens and making
S6: those and making ponds of water and.
S7: Oh, I see.
S1: I was looking at Ecclesiastes one.
S7: Okay. Yeah.
S6: Ecclesiastes two. I'm sorry. Um, where he's talking about making
S6: these things and, um, enlarging his works.
S7: Yeah.
S1: Uh, which verse are we looking at there where.
S7: You said that? One through.
S6: 11.
S7: Yeah. One through 11.
S6: Um, but the ones I was referencing are verses four
S6: through seven.
S7: Yeah. Eight ish. Okay.
S1: Got it. I see it. Uh, but you see, uh.
S6: But it would still be a similar thing where God
S6: has created it and. Yeah.
S7: He is. And the preacher is.
S1: Is is saying I built houses and planted vineyards for myself.
S1: I made gardens, and so I can see what the
S1: the devotional writer was saying was that God planted a garden.
S1: And in fact, uh, I think in many respects, when
S1: we think about God's creation of the world, it gave
S1: us a model for how we work. You know, uh,
S1: I owned herds of cattle and flocks. Well, God made
S1: those herds and cattles and flocks. So, uh, just about
S1: every time when we see these kinds of things, I
S1: think all we're seeing is, uh, a recognition that there's
S1: an underlying message, I think, in every, uh, book of
S1: the Bible when it comes to talking about the world,
S1: is that there's a creator. There's no there's no getting
S1: around that. And so you can find, uh, minor allusions
S1: to creation because it's the underlying assumption that there is
S1: a creator.
S7: Okay. Okay. All right.
S6: Thank you. That that's even in our in our general
S6: Bible reading because it is all one book. Yeah. Telling
S6: a bigger story. Not just these small like, oh, here's
S6: the story of creation. Okay, on to the next story.
S6: But they are all connected and related.
S1: This kind of makes me think of the question that
S1: kids often said, well, if everything has been created, who
S1: created God? And people think that stumps people, but that
S1: doesn't stump me. The point of it all is that
S1: everything has a creation. Everything has a, you know, every cause,
S1: every effect has a cause. Until you come to the
S1: first cause, and by definition, the first cause is God.
S1: By definition, if everything is created, therefore there must be
S1: one that is uncreated and by definition the creator is God.
S1: And so the the one being that doesn't have a
S1: creator is the creator. The one person or the one, uh,
S1: that doesn't have a cause is the first cause. he
S1: always existed, and that sets him apart from all of creation.
S1: And that's the message of the Bible that God is
S1: the creator. He is the one that's separate from all
S1: of creation. And we, when we look at it and
S1: we say, well, who created God? He's not. He's uncreated.
S1: He's the uncreated being. He's separate from the creation. We
S1: look at the creation, say, oh, and the creation everything
S1: has a cause. Well, no, he is separate from that.
S1: So that's by definition, is what makes him God.
S6: Okay. Thank you. So our next question is in Ecclesiastes
S6: two is verse nine from Kenneth in Illinois as well
S6: listens to Wmbi. It says, Solomon says, in all this
S6: my wisdom stayed with me. And so Kenneth wants to know,
S6: how does wisdom relate to a man who is enjoying
S6: all of these things for his own pleasure, and even
S6: violating some of God's commands, like multiplying horses? How does
S6: one how does one live in wisdom and not in
S6: God's will. Is that possible?
S1: Uh, well. And and there's two kinds of wisdom. Solomon
S1: was granted wisdom as a gift from God, and then
S1: he didn't always follow it. Wisdom is skill for living.
S1: And what the book of Ecclesiastes is doing is it
S1: reflects on Solomon near the end of his life, where
S1: he has not just wisdom that he received from God,
S1: but wisdom by experience. And, you know, experience is the
S1: best teacher, but it's a lot less painful, uh, to
S1: just go with the experience of others and.
S7: Right, right, right. Yeah.
S1: And so what he is saying is, look, this is
S1: the stuff I did, and he goes through his work,
S1: he goes through, uh, seeking, you know, book knowledge, pleasure knowledge, uh,
S1: work knowledge, all these different things that he's looking for.
S1: And at the end of the. I don't think you
S1: can read verse nine. Uh, my wisdom remained with me.
S1: He's learning about here. He's learning about the wisdom of
S1: of the emptiness of possessions because he sought possessions. Uh, things.
S1: I amassed silver and gold for myself.
S7: Right.
S1: And he. And he still wasn't satisfied.
S7: Well, and I.
S6: I think even in context, looking at like if you
S6: continue reading just that section, verse 11, thus I considered
S6: all my activities which my hands had done, and the
S6: labor which I had exerted, and behold, all was vanity
S6: and striving after wind, and there was no profit under
S6: the sun. So even even the wisdom that, like I
S6: could see, you know, you're telling a story, I was wise,
S6: I had wisdom, and then I realized it wasn't all
S6: worth it. Like all these things.
S7: I was doing. Utility. Yeah. Yeah.
S1: Vanity. Nothing. And then really, what we come to at
S1: the end of the book, he says absolute futility. This
S1: is 12 eight. Everything is futile. And then he says, uh,
S1: all the things that he did, he sought to find
S1: delightful sayings. And he says, beyond these, this is what
S1: I've learned. Verse 13, when it has been heard, the
S1: conclusion of the matter is, Fear God and keep his commandments,
S1: because this is for all humanity. What's the bottom line?
S1: He says, I did all these things and I found
S1: them to be futile. The only thing that isn't futile
S1: the the true wisdom, is to fear God. So that's
S1: that's the message of the book of Ecclesiastes. Uh, I
S1: was talking with my friend Michael Brown. He was going
S1: to do a debate with an atheist at Ohio State University,
S1: and he said, the guy is really focusing on Ecclesiastes.
S1: I said, do you want my one sentence summary of
S1: the book of Ecclesiastes? And he said, sure. And I said,
S1: living without God isn't living at all. That's what he learned.
S1: Living without God isn't living at all, he says. Oh
S1: that's good. And then he used it in the debate,
S1: so I was really happy. Uh, but, uh, anyway, that's
S1: that's the key. You have to remember the book of Ecclesiastes.
S1: One of the keys to understand it is not to
S1: read it in a, uh, atomistic, isolated way, but to
S1: read it holistically, to bring you to the point that
S1: the writer comes to at the end when he says,
S1: living without God isn't living at all. Fear God. That's
S1: the key to life. That's it. So it's it's all
S1: designed to bring you there. Hey, before we go, I
S1: do want to mention something before the break. Uh, I
S1: appreciate so much the team here. Uh, I'm thinking about it.
S1: Part of the team, Chris Seeger. He's coming with me
S1: to Europe. But there are other people like Amy Rios
S1: who are going to jump in, uh, and take care
S1: of the the the the engineering of the program. Trish,
S1: you're going to stay behind. Uh, we're going to bring
S1: you some guest hosts. I love the team and I
S1: especially Appreciate the rest of the team, the listeners who
S1: keep listening. And even more so there are members of
S1: the team who help keep open line on the air
S1: by being kitchen table partners. They give every month so
S1: that we can stay on the air every week, and
S1: they'll continue to listen and support Open Line, even for
S1: the two weeks that I'll be away. I'm so grateful
S1: for them. And if you would like to consider becoming
S1: a kitchen table partner and give monthly, one of the
S1: things that we do here is we prepare Bible study moments.
S1: We send them out to you every other week in
S1: an email. You get to listen to it. And I'm
S1: just really grateful for our kitchen table partners. And if
S1: you'd like to consider becoming one, all you have to
S1: do is call (888) 644-7122. I'd appreciate it so much. Or
S1: you can just go online to Open Line radio.org and
S1: become a kitchen table partner there. And we're going to
S1: come right back. Tricia with more calls you're listening to. Michael. Right.
S1: Tricia Macmillan right here on Moody Radio's Open Line. We're
S1: going to come back with more of your calls in
S1: just a moment. So stay right there. And we're back.
S1: So glad to be with you this Saturday morning. My
S1: name is Michael Ray Dolnick. And talking about your questions
S1: about the Bible, God and the spiritual life. Before we
S1: go back to the phones, I do want to mention
S1: this that when autumn rolls around, people are always interested
S1: in the fall holy days that Jewish people celebrate. Chosen
S1: People Ministries is offering a free, very helpful booklet called
S1: Celebrate Israel's High Holy Days. This little booklet explores the
S1: fall Jewish High Holy Days, the three of them that
S1: you may know, Rosh Hashanah or the Feast of Trumpets
S1: in the Bible or the Jewish New Year. Today it's
S1: called Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, and Sukkot, the
S1: Feast of Booths. They are all really interesting and this
S1: little booklet explains them for you. I hope you'll check
S1: it out. Uh, just go to the Open Line website.
S1: That's open Line radio.org. Scroll down and you'll see a
S1: link that says A Free gift from Chosen People Ministries.
S1: Click on that and you'll be taken to a page
S1: where you can fill out the form and sign up
S1: for your very own free copy of, uh, these this
S1: book on celebrate Israel's high Holy Days. This little booklet
S1: you'll I think you're going to really like it. Don't
S1: miss out. And also, I'm really grateful that we have
S1: partnered with Chosen People Ministries here at Moody Radio. Now,
S1: for the entire time that I've been hosting Open Line
S1: for 12 years plus. And one of the things that
S1: we're going to partner with, Chosen People Ministries again this
S1: coming November, November 9th, we're going to do a summit
S1: opposing anti-Semitism. It's a growing problem. It's unbelievable. Actually. I
S1: feel like we're experiencing the kind of anti-Semitism that was
S1: prevalent in the world almost 90 years ago, in the 1930s. And, uh,
S1: it's Moody's legacy always. We've always opposed anti-Semitism. It's always
S1: been the case that Moody Bible Institute in the 1970s,
S1: when the Nazis marched in Skokie, doctor Sweden took out
S1: a full page ad, uh, standing with the Jewish community
S1: and opposing anti-Semitism. He was the president of Moody at
S1: the time. That's that's what we're about. And so we're
S1: going to have a one day conference to help Christians
S1: learn how they, too, can oppose anti-Semitism. If you if
S1: you're interested in joining us, I hope you will in
S1: Tory Auditorium in Chicago at Moody Bible Institute. Uh, just
S1: go to the Open Line radio.org website. There's a banner
S1: there on the summit on opposing anti-Semitism. And please do
S1: join us. It's crucial that you join us for that day.
S1: And we're going to go to the phones right now, uh, to,
S1: I believe, Alice listening in Georgia and WNBA. Welcome to
S1: Open Line. Alice, how can I help you?
S8: Thank you. You're welcome. Michael.
S1: Good morning.
S8: I am, uh, we're starting to study, uh, Noah in
S8: a lady's Bible study. And I'm reading in, in Genesis
S8: 617 where God says he's going to destroy everything that
S8: has the breath of life in it. And I'm wondering
S8: I'm wondering why he is destroying the animals.
S9: Uh.
S1: I think God just wanted to start the whole creation anew.
S1: He didn't destroy every animal. He, uh. He took on,
S1: you know, the two by twos that we all know
S1: of from the, uh, the Ark. Uh, he took on the, uh,
S1: the the clean animals, which were probably animals for sacrifice
S1: in pairs of seven. Uh, but, uh, the, uh, I
S1: think it was just, uh, to to start creation anew.
S1: I think that's that's really all it was. Uh, you know,
S1: some might say, well, why why get get rid of
S1: all those other animals? Uh, you know, I'm not privy
S1: to God's, uh, decision making about that. I do think
S1: he makes it clear he's going to start afresh, start anew.
S1: And that's why he's going to do it, so I hope. Okay.
S1: You know, that's that's sufficient for me. It may not
S1: be sufficient for you. That's how I understand it. Okay.
S8: That sounds good to me. Thank you very much.
S1: Great. Uh, we're going to talk to Kristen Whiting, Indiana.
S1: Welcome to Open Line. Kristen, how can I help you?
S2: Good morning, doctor Mike.
S1: I've got go ahead with your question. We're running out
S1: of time here. Go ahead.
S2: Quick question about if a person has chosen to be cremated,
S2: does that preclude them from participating in the Millennial Kingdom?
S1: Well, you know, a body decays, uh, and God's able
S1: to take a decayed body or someone that's, you know,
S1: drowns at sea and their body decays. Uh, and the
S1: fish eat parts of it and, you know, uh, things
S1: like that. And yet the molecules never really go away,
S1: and supernaturally God is able to restore them. In the
S1: same way, he'll restore cremated, uh, bodies, uh, miraculously. I
S1: don't think that anything will keep God from renewing and
S1: restoring those molecules, so don't you worry about it, Kristen. Uh,
S1: cremation is not what my preferred approach is, but nevertheless,
S1: God's able to restore those bodies at the resurrection. Uh, well,
S1: that's the our. Can't believe it. It's go so fast,
S1: but we're going to come back with the second hour
S1: of open line on most of these stations. Check out
S1: the Moody Radio app or the podcast, or listen online
S1: if your station doesn't carry it, the Bible Study America
S1: is going to continue, uh, in the second hour. So
S1: stay with us. Open line with Doctor Michael Melnick is
S1: a production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.
S1: Stay with.