S1: Hello friends, it's time for the second hour of Open
S1: Line with Doctor Michael Radonich Moody Radio's Bible Study Across America.
S1: We're talking about your questions about the Bible, God and
S1: the spiritual life. My name is Michael Radonich. I'm academic
S1: dean and professor of Jewish studies at Moody Bible Institute,
S1: and we're live today sitting around the radio kitchen table
S1: taking your questions so you can just give me a call.
S1: Right now we have a few phone lines open. It's
S1: always good at the beginning of the hour to get
S1: those lines filled up. It's the best time. Call (877) 548-3675.
S1: That's (877) 548-3675. If you can't call, you can just go
S1: to our website open Line radio.org. Click Ask Michael a question,
S1: you'll see that there. And that's where you can post
S1: your question. I hope you have your Bibles open. I
S1: hope you've got your second cup of coffee. I have
S1: such a big cup of coffee. Mine lasts for two
S1: hours in my little special cup. And there it is,
S1: and we're ready to talk about the scriptures. We're going
S1: to talk to Kimberly to begin right, right now in Akron, Ohio,
S1: listening on Wkar's. Welcome to Open Line.
S2: Thank you. Thank you for having me. Um, the question
S2: I have, let me first tell you how I came
S2: up with it. Every Saturday morning, I have an app
S2: on my phone with this King James, and there's a quiz.
S2: And so the question was, which apostle betrayed Jesus? Um,
S2: it gives the list of them. And I saw Joseph Iscariot,
S2: which was the truth. But then it made me wonder,
S2: why is he the only apostle that has a last name?
S3: Uh.
S1: I don't think it's the last name. I think it's
S1: it's a category. Just like, uh, think about.
S4: Uh.
S1: James and John are the sons of Zebedee. Uh, so
S1: James name, actually, uh, James, the son of Zebedee. His
S1: real name was Jacob. If you read the Greek New Testament,
S1: it's Jacobus is the name. And and then it would
S1: be Yaakov in Hebrew or Aramaic Ben, and then Zebedee
S1: as the Hebrew name Zebedee. So that's what, uh, that's
S1: what it would have been. So it sounds like a
S1: last name. Uh, Iscariot. Uh, ish something. But I don't
S1: know what carryout ish is, man. So, uh, that's one
S1: of the things that you can look up and see
S1: what Iscariot is. I think it may have to do
S1: with the nickname more than a last name. Okay.
S2: I'm going to ask the question. Even when I called in,
S2: it was like a question that they thought, wow, I
S2: never thought of that either. So I figured it would
S2: be a good question to ask you.
S1: Yeah, well, you know, it is, you know, but I'm
S1: going to have to say that I'll tell you what
S1: I'm I'm good at. I'm good at answering Bible questions.
S1: I'm really terrible at Bible trivia, so. Ha ha ha.
S1: And and, uh, that's that's what, uh, what sometimes I think, uh,
S1: people think, well, how can I stump the professor? Which is. Okay. Uh,
S1: you know, I don't mind that, but that I'm. I
S1: will easily get stumped. Uh, it's actually, uh, it could,
S1: it could be. They're not sure I'm looking it up
S1: right now about Iscariot. Uh, ish is. Man, I knew
S1: that chariot. Some people, they're not sure what it means.
S1: If it's a place name or if it comes from
S1: the Latin sicarius, which is the assassins or the rebels
S1: that were involved in the first century revolt against Rome,
S1: those who were zealots. And so, uh, that maybe he
S1: comes from that, the ultra nationalist, uh, group of that
S1: leads to the zealots and the war that breaks out
S1: in 66 against Rome. So that's that's what it could be.
S1: That's what it could be. Thanks for your call, Kimberly.
S1: Really appreciate it. We're going to talk to Vivian, uh,
S1: in Selma, Alabama, listening on Wraf. Welcome to Open Line. Vivian.
S1: How can I help you? Yes.
S5: Good morning. Thank you so much, Michael, for taking my question. Sure.
S5: My question is, in Genesis one one, we we see that, um,
S5: God created the heavens and the earth. Also in Matthew 25,
S5: which is part of tomorrow's Sunday school lesson 25, verse 34,
S5: it says the kingdom was prepared since the creation of
S5: the world. But John 14 and three says, and if
S5: I go and prepare a place for you. So my
S5: question is, I know it's not a contradiction. I just
S5: want some clarity.
S6: Well, in.
S1: Genesis one one, God created the heavens and the earth,
S1: and it's really important to understand what it means. The
S1: word heaven has different kinds of meanings there. It's referring
S1: to the space, so to speak, the the sky in space.
S1: Of course you have. That's what Shamayim is. There the heavens. Uh,
S1: when we. When we like, when you look out at
S1: the stars and you see those stars, and you see
S1: the sun in the in the sky, and you see
S1: the the moon in the sky and the heavens, that's
S1: what it's referring to, sort of space. Uh, it's not
S1: talking about heaven as our place where we're going to
S1: be with the Lord. Uh, okay. That's that's Genesis in
S1: Matthew 25. Five, verse 34, uh, it says that, uh,
S1: come into the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation
S1: of the world. That's not talking about heaven, that's talking
S1: about an earthly kingdom where Messiah reigns over from Jerusalem,
S1: over Israel and the whole world. That's the messianic kingdom.
S1: Some people call it the millennium because in revelation 20
S1: it is said to be a thousand years. So that's
S1: not heaven either. One is space two the Matthew 25.
S1: That's the earthly kingdom of the Messiah. And then, uh,
S1: John 14 three uh, this is where Jesus says I
S1: go to prepare a place for you. Um, and, uh,
S1: I if I go away, I will come back there.
S1: He's just saying. He's not saying he's creating a heaven
S1: for us or that he's creating the kingdom. What he's
S1: saying he's preparing, uh, in my father's house, there are many.
S1: I remember one Greek teacher. I had said many apartments. Uh,
S1: we like mansions, but that there's a place to live
S1: in the presence of God and the Lord Jesus goes
S1: to prepare that for us. That's what it's referring to. Uh,
S1: and so those are the three terms. They're not at
S1: all contradictory. They're they're just talking about three different things. Okay, Vivian.
S5: Thank you. Thank you for the clarity.
S1: Yeah, sure. Thanks so much for your call. Boy, I
S1: have to say, this is, uh, talking about heaven. Uh,
S1: I have a dear friend who went to be with
S1: the Lord about two weeks ago, the day after the
S1: Super Bowl, and, uh, I talked with him after the
S1: Super Bowl. He had he was quite ill. And then
S1: he had sort of a little revival on the day
S1: of the Super Bowl. He was in the hospital and
S1: his kids were with him, and they watched the football game,
S1: and he called me and said, you know, I'm going
S1: to be dying soon and will you speak at my
S1: funeral and, and such? And that was a hard conversation.
S1: But I said to him, you know, as hard as
S1: this is, I know we're going to see each other again.
S1: And then he was supposed to go home for hospice,
S1: but passed away in the morning. And every time you
S1: lose someone like that. This has been my friend for
S1: over 50 years and we don't see each other much,
S1: but talk all the time and text all the time
S1: and think of each other all the time. When that happens,
S1: you think, well, eternity is so true. We will get
S1: to be with each other forever. And and I think
S1: that sometimes when, when we die, when someone dies that
S1: we love, we, we get the sense that it's it
S1: will hurt our faith, but it doesn't. It builds my faith.
S1: It strengthens my faith. It gives me hope. We don't.
S1: I'm grieving the loss of this dear friend, but I
S1: don't grieve as those who have no hope. You know,
S1: first Thessalonians four I have a real confidence that I
S1: will see him again. Uh, and he was when I
S1: went to Moody as a student 50 years ago. He
S1: was the funniest student in school. He was just a
S1: crack up. And, uh, as I think about that, I
S1: think I'm going to spend eternity with my old pal laughing.
S1: We're going to be. There's going to be laughter in heaven,
S1: and we're going to be cutting up then as just.
S1: And you know what? Faith in Jesus, friends. Trusting in him,
S1: believing in him, that he died for us and rose
S1: again gives us confidence to face the future, That's what.
S1: That's what this reminds me of. Uh, so anyway, we're
S1: going to go to break now and, uh uh uh,
S1: when we do go to break, I want you to consider, uh,
S1: that that all you have to do is put your
S1: trust in Jesus. Uh, and then you, too, can have
S1: confidence that he died for us. He rose again, and
S1: he has gone to prepare a place for us, and
S1: we'll spend forever with him. I hope you'll make that
S1: decision to tell him. If you've never done that, that
S1: you trust in Jesus. We're going to come back in
S1: just a moment. Uh, we're going to take more of
S1: your calls right here on Open Line with Michael Zelnick.
S1: And we're back. So glad to be with you on
S1: this Saturday morning as we study the scriptures together on
S1: our Bible study across America. I do want to remind
S1: you about our current resource, because I think it's such
S1: a helpful book, and it was written by a friend
S1: of mine, Doctor Paul Benware, and it gives you a
S1: roadmap for the New Testament. It is a survey of
S1: the New Testament by Paul Benware, and Doctor Benware has
S1: been teaching the Bible for beyond years, I can imagine,
S1: and just has had a wonderful ministry, but not just
S1: for people at large. Really has helped me a lot
S1: with my understanding of Scripture and how to put it
S1: all together. And this book, survey of the New Testament
S1: gives you a roadmap of of Matthew through revelation, how
S1: each book is put together and how they all fit together.
S1: It is such a great resource. I don't want you
S1: to miss out on it. And it's our way of
S1: saying thank you to you. When you send a gift
S1: of any size, we'd love to get you a copy
S1: of survey of the New Testament by Doctor Paul Benware.
S1: If you would like to give a gift and get
S1: a copy of this book, all you have to do
S1: is call (888) 644-7122. That's (888) 644-7122 or go to open Line radio.org.
S1: And remember with your gift, be sure to ask for
S1: a survey of the New Testament by Doctor Paul Benware.
S1: You're going to love this book. And we're going to
S1: talk to Jack Johnston in Alaska, listening on 97.7 FM,
S1: Moody Radio. I got to say, Jack, I'm glad you're calling.
S1: Every time I get a call from Alaska, I think
S1: I want to go to Alaska. Never been so. I'm
S1: jealous of you, Jack. Living there in Alaska. How can
S1: I help you?
S7: Yes, sir. Yeah, well, come on up. Yeah. We'd love
S7: to have you. Yes, sir. Well, my Uh, question kind
S7: of is, um, do you think that, uh, cause for
S7: the anti-Semitism, I mean, throughout history even has been because God,
S7: the only true living God gave his word, the law
S7: of Moses. And, you know, all of the Old and
S7: New Testament to Jewish people. I mean, they were the
S7: ones that God spoke to as opposed to all the
S7: other nations that were worshiping idols, you know, created in
S7: their own image. And, um, anyhow, I was just, uh,
S7: my question was, do you think that the hatred of
S7: Jewish folks and believers in the Lord Jesus also, that, um,
S7: is caused because we worship the true living God and
S7: they can't touch him, but they can certainly kill us.
S7: And you know what I'm saying?
S1: Yeah, I think that there's maybe there's a hint of that.
S1: I don't want to say no, I don't, you know,
S1: because I don't know what drives anti-Semitism. But I think
S1: that there are two theological reasons for anti-Semitism. The first
S1: is mentioned in Psalm 83. I talked about it first,
S1: our that that, uh, because the world hates God, they
S1: hate his people, that they that hatred of the God
S1: of Israel fuels hatred of the people of Israel. And
S1: I think that's really there. And I guess what I
S1: would say is Satan hates whom God loves. And and
S1: that's right there. And, and that's why it's like that. Uh,
S1: and the way of hurting people, I think whether knowingly
S1: or not, the enemy wants to hurt God in the
S1: way he hurts God is by hurting those whom God loves.
S1: And and that that's a, I think, a a special reason,
S1: a second reason I believe theologically not based on Psalm 83,
S1: but based on revelation 12, is that Satan wants to
S1: obstruct the plan of God. So think about it. If
S1: if Haman had been successful, then the Messiah could have
S1: never been born because he was promised to come from
S1: the people of Israel. Uh, and when we look at
S1: the future, Matthew 2337 through 39, where it says that
S1: the key to the Second Coming after the tribulation, the
S1: key is when Israel will welcome Jesus as the Messiah.
S1: He says, though he would have gathered them as as
S1: a mother hen gathers her chicks, they were unwilling that.
S1: But you will not see me again until you say,
S1: blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
S1: That's the Hebrew phrase for greeting. Uh, it's written in
S1: Greek there, but it's based on the Hebrew phrase for welcome.
S1: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
S1: You can see it in Psalm 118. It's still used
S1: today in modern Hebrew as the welcome. So for that reason,
S1: in my opinion, it is saying there what the Lord
S1: Jesus is saying is when Israel welcomes him back, that's
S1: when he will return. And so if Satan could destroy
S1: the Jewish people, he will obstruct the return of the
S1: Lord Jesus. And so I actually believe it is hatred
S1: for whom God loves, and obstruction of the plan that
S1: God has made that drives anti-Semitism. Okay, Jack?
S7: Yes, sir. Yeah, that's that's neat because like you're saying,
S7: I mean, it just it's.
S1: Illogical, isn't it? It doesn't make any sense.
S7: No, it doesn't, it doesn't. But you know, all throughout history, people,
S7: you know, uh, they, they hate the Jews and believers
S7: in Jesus. Yeah. You know, because of his word, I mean,
S7: everybody I.
S1: Mean, we have if you go back in church history, Jack,
S1: you're going to see that the believers in the Lord
S1: Jesus Also hated the Jewish people. Uh, yeah. The Inquisition.
S1: And if you look at the the Crusades, it's just unbelievable.
S1: When you look at the history of hatred of the
S1: Jewish people. And, uh, I think that that the most
S1: interesting thing to me is that that doesn't change God's heart.
S1: He's going to preserve and protect his people. And, and that's,
S1: that's the the truth of it. And, uh, hopefully the
S1: the pressure will cause Jewish people to consider the Messiah
S1: of Israel, the Lord Jesus. So anyway, thank you for
S1: your call, Jack, I appreciate it. We're going to go
S1: to the next caller. It's Devin, uh, or Devin, I
S1: guess I would say Devin, uh, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, listening
S1: on Moody Radio there. Welcome to Open Line. Devin.
S8: Hi, Michael. Uh, it's actually Devin. You got it right
S8: the first time. Okay. Um, but so my question is
S8: really pertaining to like within my family. And um, Hebrews
S8: 1214 says to make every effort to live at peace
S8: with everyone. And, and then in Matthew 1034 and 35,
S8: it talks about setting a man at variance against his
S8: father and bringing a sword and all this. So can
S8: you please give me some wisdom on how to pursue
S8: peace with people that I feel like aren't aren't really
S8: don't have the same heart for that.
S1: You know, that sounds to me like there's a whole
S1: lot more going on. Uh, then then, you know, I
S1: can really answer, but I'll I'll just start with this,
S1: that we should do our best to be at peace
S1: with our family. That mark is a mark 1030. Matthew 1037. Right.
S1: Isn't that what you're talking about? The verse. Did I
S1: get that right, Jack?
S8: 1030. Well, 1034 and 35.
S9: Yeah. That's it.
S1: Uh, that's not saying that everyone's going to be at
S1: odds with their parents or their brothers or sisters. Uh, but, uh,
S1: but nevertheless, when it's really saying that there there's a
S1: grave possibility that when a person becomes a follower of Jesus,
S1: it may lead to a separation between parents and children
S1: and siblings and so forth, and children and parents, and
S1: you just don't know. But Romans 1218 says, as much
S1: as is possible, be at peace with all men. So
S1: even though there may be a division in the family,
S1: what we have to do is see where we can go,
S1: what we can do, how we can do it, to
S1: try to find peace, even without compromising our faith. Uh,
S1: I just know. I'll just tell you in my own life,
S1: my own family. When I became a follower of Jesus,
S1: my dad utterly disowned me. He moved away. Wouldn't talk
S1: to me just because I believed in Jesus and the
S1: reason for him. You know, he had lost his first wife,
S1: his five children in the Holocaust, and he saw all
S1: followers of Jesus as, uh, being equated with Nazis. And
S1: so to him, I had become a Nazi. Uh, even. Obviously,
S1: that's not true. And so what I did is I
S1: just spent the rest of his living days trying to
S1: send out appeals, trying to let him know that I
S1: wanted to have a relationship with him. I wanted to
S1: see him. I wasn't going to compromise my faith, but, uh,
S1: I was I if you don't want me to ever
S1: talk about it, I won't ever talk about it. Uh,
S1: I'll leave that to God to to let you know
S1: about it. But I wanted to have a relationship with him.
S1: Had about 2 or 3 times where we could actually talk. Uh,
S1: but nothing really came of it over those years. Uh,
S1: you know, over 25 years of of trying to reach
S1: out to him. I did my best as much as possible.
S1: I wanted to be at peace with him. Uh, without
S1: giving up my faith, that's what I would say. What
S1: kind of sacrifices? Sacrifices we can make to try and
S1: let those whom we love know that we want to
S1: be at peace with them, even if they don't want
S1: to be at peace with us. That's what I would
S1: encourage you to do. Jack. Okay.
S8: Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Michael. Yeah.
S1: Uh, and I'm sorry I said Jack. It was Devin
S1: or Devin or something like that. Okay, we're going to
S1: talk to, uh, Daniel, uh, in Minnesota on Faith radio.
S1: Welcome to Open Line. Daniel. How can I help you?
S10: Thank you, thank you. And peace and glory be upon
S10: you as well. And for all who have an ear
S10: to listen. I am really curious of John 1613 and
S10: when Jesus references the helper and he calls him he
S10: a couple of times. So I wanted to get more
S10: information on how we can look for the helper in
S10: our everyday life. Of course, the Holy Spirit. But then also,
S10: if there is someone that Jesus is sending to that
S10: will testify in his name that he sent.
S1: Well, John 16, where it says that he will guide
S1: you into all truth, I think that he's that's not
S1: a general statement. If I'm right, the guidance of the
S1: Holy Spirit that's being spoken there is in the upper
S1: room discourse to the disciples and uh, uh, and uh,
S1: so I think what he is saying is, uh, that
S1: he will declare to you what is to come and
S1: he will glorify me and so forth, but he will
S1: guide you into all truth. I think he's talking to
S1: the apostles, and that's what empowered them to write the
S1: New Testament. In terms of the Holy Spirit, we fully
S1: have the Holy Spirit. Romans eight says that. And Paul
S1: is writing, obviously after Pentecost, that every believer fully has
S1: the Holy Spirit. It says in Romans eight nine, if, if,
S1: if we don't have the spirit, we don't belong to him. Conversely,
S1: if we do belong to him, we fully have the
S1: Holy Spirit. And that's enough power, the power that raised
S1: the Lord Jesus from the dead. So we're we have
S1: spiritual power. And so what the Bible is teaching also, Paul,
S1: Ephesians 518 we need to be filled or controlled by
S1: the spirit. I believe that's by allowing the Word of
S1: God to take forcible occupation of our lives. That's how
S1: the Holy Spirit controls us. We need to be. We
S1: need to walk in the spirit that that the the
S1: mind set on things of the spirit is spiritual. The
S1: mind set on things of the flesh is is fleshly.
S1: That's what Romans eight says. And so what we're doing
S1: is we're looking to live according to the leading and
S1: guidance of the Holy Spirit by thinking on putting our mind,
S1: our thoughts, our, our, our ideas before the Word of
S1: God and under the control of the Holy Spirit, setting
S1: our minds on things above. Uh, that's that's how we
S1: are led by the spirit today. So, uh, you know,
S1: I don't think we should always, you know, this is
S1: what I think. Sometimes we're looking for signs and wonders
S1: and and powerful exploits what the Holy Spirit is doing
S1: in our lives now. Uh, you know, an evil and
S1: adulterous generation looks after a sign, seeks for a sign.
S1: But what we're looking for is spiritual transformation. That the
S1: Holy Spirit will draw us closer and closer in our
S1: walk with him as we devote ourselves to the things
S1: of the spirit, the things above. By the power of
S1: His Spirit, he's transforming our lives on a daily basis
S1: so we can walk closer and closer with him. Uh,
S1: doesn't mean he's going to reveal all things to come
S1: to us, because that was what he was saying to
S1: the apostles in the upper room. But he is promising
S1: us that we can, by the power of the spirit.
S1: What's what's he say? Put to death the deeds of
S1: the flesh by the power of the Holy Spirit. And
S1: so that's that's that's what he's looking for, uh, to
S1: accomplish in our lives. Uh, Daniel, is is that helpful
S1: at all?
S10: That that is absolutely helpful in a profound way. And
S10: I pray that a lot. Who all hears this does
S10: take away a lot of things. But among those that
S10: really stuck out to me was that the same power,
S10: that and same spirit that Jesus gave to us all
S10: when he left, is that same spirit that resurrected people
S10: from the dead resurrected him? From the dead? Resurrected Lazarus
S10: from the dead?
S9: Yeah.
S10: Those that every single day in the.
S1: Power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us. Amazing.
S1: When we think about the power. Everyone's looking for more power. Well,
S1: we don't have to look for more power. We just
S1: have to be transformed by the power that's in us already.
S1: We're going to come right back with the the Febc mailbag,
S1: so stick with us. This is open line with Michael Zelnick.
S1: Welcome back to Open Line. So glad to be with
S1: you this morning. And I'm truly grateful for all of
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S1: Thank you, thank you, thank you. Well joining me right
S1: now is to hear Haynes. And she is our producer today.
S1: And she's the one asking the questions. So glad you're
S1: with us. This is the FBC mailbag. Now, had you
S1: ever heard of FBC before you came to Moody Radio?
S11: I heard about it first on Moody Radio.
S4: Yeah. Well, Ed.
S1: Cannon, wonderful president of this terrific organization that uses media
S1: to reach people all across the globe. A lot of
S1: Moody Radio broadcasting on it as well. People there sending
S1: out bold steps all over the world with with Mark Jobe,
S1: wonderful ministry. And, uh, I hope you'll check out FBC.
S1: Org and and catch their podcast until all have heard.
S1: Well what what do we have on the FBC mailbag today?
S11: We have some great questions. And our first question is
S11: from Nicole and she wrote to us via Facebook. Is
S11: there a concise timeline of the history of Israel through
S11: modern times that would demonstrate to doubters why the Land
S11: of Israel belongs to the Jewish people and has for
S11: thousands of years so many things that the people who
S11: now live in Gaza have ancient roots in Israel, or
S11: as it's sometimes called, Palestine.
S6: Yeah.
S1: Well, let's see, I'm going to say, first of all,
S1: there's a book called understanding the Arab-Israeli conflict. Uh, it's
S1: a little dated because this changes so much. So it
S1: doesn't have the news from the last 15 years or so,
S1: but it does give that timeline, uh, it's published by Moody.
S1: And modesty forbids me for mentioning the name of the
S1: author who's going to be revising it, uh, in the
S1: next few months. So that captures everything up to date. Uh,
S1: but that. I'm just joking. It's a book I wrote
S1: a number of years ago. It's still in print. We're
S1: updating it now. Uh, but that does give you the
S1: timeline you're looking for. Uh, secondly, uh, the idea that
S1: the people in Gaza and the West Bank and even
S1: in Israel, that they were there from ancient times, that
S1: they are the, the, the Philistines continue. That's just not true. Uh,
S1: a couple of things. One, the Arabic language came to
S1: that land with the Arabic conquest in the seventh.
S6: Century A.D..
S1: And so that's where they came from. They conquered that area. Uh,
S1: then also, the land was so destroyed by the policies
S1: of the Ottoman government when it led it from 1517
S1: till 1916. That's the Ottoman. The Turkish government was the, uh, Empire,
S1: the empire that controlled that was over the land of Israel.
S1: What they did is they one of the things, the
S1: stupid things that they did is they taxed you if
S1: you had trees.
S6: Wow.
S1: So people, what do they do? They don't want to
S1: pay taxes. So they cut their trees down and it
S1: denuded the land of trees. And it took away the topsoil,
S1: and it made the place in the north. It just
S1: became swamps. And in the south it was just desert.
S1: And as a result, in 1882, with the birth of
S1: the modern return of Jewish people to the land after
S1: they had been scattered away, there's always some Jewish people there, but, uh,
S1: the majority of Jewish people weren't there. The land had
S1: only had about 225,000 people. This is the land that
S1: sustains a like 13 or 14 million people right now. Uh,
S1: there are only 225,000 people. And the Jewish people began
S1: to return. They drained the swamps, they irrigated the South.
S1: They planted trees. They did all this, which caused the
S1: the rebirth of the land and brought work. And so
S1: people from the entire Mediterranean basin began to come. Even
S1: as Jews were returning, people were returning as well. And
S1: that's where people who claim to be Palestinian today, those
S1: that's when they came. So it's really two immigrant peoples.
S1: It's not like like you hear they were there from
S1: time immemorial, and then the Jews came and drove them out.
S1: That's just not what it was. You have the Jews returning,
S1: and then people from the Mediterranean basin, Circassians and people
S1: from Cyprus, Crete, people from all the surrounding Arab states
S1: began to go there for work. And as a result,
S1: they have two immigrant populations. You can even see this
S1: in a simple book by Mark Twain. He wrote Innocents Abroad,
S1: and he talked about when he went to to Palestine,
S1: as it was called, the name the Romans gave it
S1: in the second century AD to try and take the
S1: Jewishness out of the land. So, uh, what what he
S1: says is he goes, you go days, you don't see anybody,
S1: you travel for days, uh, and you don't see anyone.
S1: It's a really interesting description of the land of Israel
S1: that said, uh, I think that That. It's just the
S1: stories are filled with propaganda. You need to get a
S1: better history of how the land came to be.
S11: Well, thank you for that and thank you for those
S11: good resources as well. Our next question is from Ladina
S11: on Facebook. I've been thinking about how people have been
S11: and will always be saved by grace through faith in
S11: the revealed will of God. What are grace and faith?
S11: How do we know the revealed will of God today?
S4: Well.
S1: Grace means God's undeserved kindness. Faith refers to our trust. Uh.
S1: And uh, so we are saved by God's grace through
S1: faith in. And today is the gospel that the Lord
S1: Jesus died for us and rose again. Uh, in the
S1: Old Testament, it was always by God's grace through faith
S1: in what God had revealed. Offer these sacrifices. Look for
S1: the Messiah. Uh, that's the Old Testament. But the revealed
S1: will of God was found in the in the Word
S1: of God. In the same way, the revealed will of
S1: God today is found in the Word of God, trusting
S1: in the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, who has come. And so, uh,
S1: it's it's not that hard. We're saved by God's undeserved
S1: kindness for us when we trust in the good news
S1: that Jesus died for our sins and rose again, that's
S1: the revealed will of God found in the Word of God.
S11: Okay, wonderful.
S6: Thank you. Okay.
S1: Uh, thanks so much for sending those questions in. All
S1: you have to do is go to the website openline radio.org,
S1: click on Ask Michael a question and to Hera and
S1: Tricia will make sure your question get into the mailbag.
S1: That was Tyra Haynes I'm Michael Melnick. We'll be right
S1: back with more of your questions right here on Openline.
UU: And we're back.
S1: So glad to be with you. I've had a wonderful
S1: morning talking with you in our Bible study across America.
S1: My name is Michael Melnick, and, you know, since the
S1: war broke out with Israel and Hamas when Hamas attacked
S1: Israel on October 7th, 2023, and now 16 months, you know,
S1: people have not been going to Israel. They would so
S1: love to go, but can't. There aren't many tours. There
S1: are some tours going back now, but not much. So
S1: one of our ministry partners, Chosen People Ministries, is offering
S1: a coffee table book called Israel, the land and the people,
S1: so you can go to Israel by looking at these pictures.
S1: It is some of the best photos you'll see of
S1: Israel anywhere. It shows the beauty, the history, the culture,
S1: the variety of the Land of Israel, from snow top
S1: Mount Hermon in the north to the fortress of Masada
S1: in the south, from ancient the ancient streets of Jerusalem
S1: to bustling modern Tel Aviv. It's got biblical verses, prayer prompts. Uh,
S1: it's just a great book. And if you'd like a
S1: free copy of Israel, the Land and the people, just
S1: go to Openline. Uh, our web site, Openline. radio.org Openline radio.org.
S1: Scroll down. You'll see a link that says A free
S1: gift from Chosen People Ministries. Click on that. You'll be
S1: taken to a page where you can sign up for
S1: your own copy of Israel, The land and the people. Also,
S1: when you're on the website Openline radio.org, you can scroll
S1: down to the end. There's a link to my personal
S1: web page. People have been asking me about a trip.
S1: We're going to be doing a cruise next December in
S1: the Caribbean and studying the scriptures together. It's a unique
S1: cruise on a tall ship. If you're interested in that,
S1: go to michael-ray. Org or you can just go to
S1: our website and scroll down and click on my personal
S1: web page, and you can find out about that. We're
S1: going to go to the phones right now and speak
S1: with Patti in Florida listening on keys. Welcome to Open Line, Patti.
S1: How can I help you?
S12: Well, good morning, Doctor Michael. So if I could preface
S12: this question with the fact that this question does come
S12: from our Sunday school class, we're studying your 50 most
S12: important Bible questions. Okay, so so we had finished the
S12: chapter about Judas and his suicide. But what came up
S12: was the fact that we were wondering if there's anything
S12: in the Bible that says that we haven't found that
S12: Judas was not truly a believing apostle.
S6: Since he.
S12: Didn't commit suicide. Is there any.
S6: Indication?
S1: I don't think you know, people think that suicide is
S1: the sin that would cause someone to lose their salvation.
S1: I don't think any sin. If we're genuinely saved, we
S1: can't lose our salvation. Uh, but just remember, uh, that
S1: Judas was a sham all along. You know, when the
S1: Lord Jesus. When when the woman washed his feet with
S1: with the with perfume and with her tears. Remember that?
S1: He was like, oh, this money, this could have been
S1: sold and we could have, uh, made so much money, uh,
S1: off of it. So he wasn't genuine all along. He
S1: was there probably because he wanted the Lord Jesus to
S1: overthrow the Romans. And he thought this may be the
S1: way to do it. Uh, and the other phrase that
S1: the Gospel of John uses of, of, of Judas is
S1: that he's the son of perdition. What is perdition mean?
S1: It means damnation. It means the the one who is
S1: destined for eternal punishment. And so I don't think he
S1: was ever a believer. He. I don't think it's possible
S1: to lose your salvation. I don't think he ever had it.
S1: And that was his destiny. So does that help at all?
S12: Yeah, that's kind of what we were thinking, that just
S12: based on what his actions were during that time, he
S12: probably wasn't a true apostle. Which led the other question,
S12: why would Jesus call him except to do that act?
S1: Well, he called him I. You know, the Lord knew
S1: who was a believer, and he also knew who would
S1: betray him. You know, part of this whole thing was,
S1: why would the Lord do something when he knows what?
S1: That's that whole thing where I don't think we should
S1: even engage in the what if and the why for
S1: and all that. Uh, because we can't. The whole issue
S1: of God's sovereignty and human responsibility and how that those
S1: two things work together. I just don't think we can
S1: even comprehend it. It's too mysterious for us. But, you know,
S1: people often say that Judas repented when he threw the
S1: 30 shekels back at the leadership who had paid him.
S1: That was not repentance, that was remorse, and it was
S1: not a changed life or he would not have committed suicide. So. Okay, Patti.
S12: Take that back tomorrow.
S1: Okay, good. You have a good class tomorrow. Thanks for calling. Uh,
S1: we're going to talk to Eric in Wisconsin, listening on
S1: 90.1 FM, Moody Radio Chicago Wmbi. How can I help
S1: you today, Eric?
S13: Good morning, doctor. Peace be with you. I have a
S13: question regarding Romans 829 to 30 regarding predestination. It's a pretty,
S13: I guess you would say, confusing verse to a lot
S13: of believers and non-believers from the point that when some
S13: people read this, they come up with the conclusion, no
S13: matter how I live my life, the Lord predestined me
S13: to be saved. But then I look at verse 29,
S13: that first word it says for whom he did foreknow.
S13: Could you expand on those two verses for me to
S13: help me get a better understanding of that circle?
S6: Sure.
S1: Well, here, let me just say one thing. There's all
S1: these verses that indicate God's sovereign work in salvation. Then
S1: there are other verses that call on people to believe
S1: human responsibility. And sometimes you even find them right up
S1: against each other. Human responsibility, uh, and God's sovereignty. Uh,
S1: and and the Bible makes no effort to reconcile those things.
S1: When Spurgeon was asked how he reconciles them, he says,
S1: I never reconcile friends. So, uh, they're both true. They're mysterious.
S1: I think that is as far as the heavens are above,
S1: the earth, so high are so much higher are my
S1: thoughts than your thoughts and my ways above your ways.
S1: That's Isaiah 55. The mind of God is far greater
S1: and can comprehend these things better than my mind or
S1: your mind. Eric. So let's just remember that, uh, let's
S1: go through it. He foreknew to Foreknow means to know beforehand,
S1: and the biblical sense of the word to know is
S1: to enter into a relationship. Just you can even see
S1: it in the Bible. You know, God, the man knew
S1: his wife, that that's a relational term. And so God foreknew.
S1: He knew not just didn't know. It's not just does
S1: not just mean that he knew in advance who would believe.
S1: It means that he knew us. We entered into relationship
S1: with him. Before time he foreknew us. He predestined us. Uh.
S1: He determined in advance that we would be conformed to
S1: the image of his son. Uh, and he also called
S1: us to believe there's two calls, there's the general call
S1: and the scripture that everyone should believe. And then there's
S1: the call, effectual call to believe in Jesus and we will.
S1: And those he called, he justified. He declared us righteous
S1: and those he justified. It says he glorified. And it
S1: uses the aorist tense of completed action. But that's yet
S1: to happen in the future. It's called a proleptic error,
S1: something so certain that it's spoken of as a completed action,
S1: even though it hasn't happened yet because it's so certain.
S1: So that's what it says. And all those things are true.
S1: And nevertheless, he calls us to faith. If you read
S1: Romans ten, uh, it says, how shall they believe, uh,
S1: unless unless they have a preacher. Right. Uh, it says,
S1: how can they call on him? They have not believed in.
S1: And how can they believe without hearing about him? And
S1: how can they hear without a preacher? And so what
S1: is seeming to say is people have a responsibility to
S1: believe and they need to hear the message. How can
S1: both those things be true? That God will call predestined
S1: those people who are called? And at the same time
S1: we have to preach the good news. Do you know what?
S1: They're both true. And we have to just live with that.
S13: And it also sounds like there's some actions that the
S13: person or the believer has to take. You just can't
S13: sit on your morals and think everything is hunky dory.
S6: Yeah.
S1: The person's got to respond to the faith, to the call,
S1: to faith. I love the scene in The Silver Chair
S1: by C.S. Lewis where Jill Catchpole, I think that was
S1: her name. Jill comes back, comes to Narnia, and she's
S1: speaking to Aslan, the lion, and she said, we called
S1: out to you and that's why we're here. And he said,
S1: you would not have called had I not called you here.
S1: And I think that there's a lot of truth to
S1: that right there. So. Yeah. So, uh, you know, I,
S1: I don't want to appear simplistic. I know that there
S1: are people like my friend Michael Vanlandingham, who are smart
S1: enough to understand how sovereignty and free will work. I'm
S1: just not bright enough. So I live with the mystery
S1: that both are true. I totally believe, though I would
S1: not have believed had not he called me first. So.
S1: But I do believe I have a responsibility to everyone
S1: and call on people to believe and trust God with it.
S1: Okay Eric, that I think I lost you Eric, but
S1: thank you for your call. I really appreciate it. Well, friends,
S1: what a day it's been. I want you to keep
S1: praying for the people of Israel. This is a very
S1: tough day. A very tough time for them. Uh, some
S1: captives have been released. Others have been returned in gruesome
S1: fashion in boxes. And so we need to keep praying
S1: for the peace of Jerusalem right now. Paying for the
S1: peace in the hearts of the people of Israel. I
S1: want to remind you of that. If you want to
S1: hear more about that, you can go back and listen
S1: to the opening word from today. But that's it for today.
S1: Thanks so much for listening. We're so grateful for all
S1: of you who listen. And thanks for you. Those of
S1: you who called or wrote with your questions, you make
S1: the program possible. And also thanks to the Open Line team,
S1: Merle and Tara and Lisa, we're so grateful for all
S1: that you do. And remember, keep in touch with us
S1: by going to our website, Open Line radio.org. It's got
S1: all the links you're looking for, uh, how to become
S1: a kitchen table partner, how to get our current resource,
S1: how to see my personal website with all that's there.
S1: Keep reading the Bible. We'll talk about it next week.
S1: Open line with Doctor Michael Ray Dolnick is a production
S1: of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute. Have
S1: a great weekend.