WEBVTT - Your Bible Questions 0:00:09.920 --> 0:00:13.320 Hello friends. It's time for the second hour of Open 0:00:13.320 --> 0:00:18.160 Line with Doctor Michael Moody Radio's Bible Study Across America. 0:00:18.160 --> 0:00:22.480 We're talking about your questions about the Bible, God and 0:00:22.480 --> 0:00:25.560 the spiritual life. My name is Michael Riedel. I'm the 0:00:25.560 --> 0:00:30.000 academic dean and a professor of Jewish studies and Bible 0:00:30.000 --> 0:00:34.239 at Moody Bible Institute. We're live today sitting around the 0:00:34.240 --> 0:00:37.879 radio kitchen table taking your questions. Now is the time 0:00:37.880 --> 0:00:44.520 to give me a call. The phone number is (877) 548-3675. 0:00:44.560 --> 0:00:49.919 That's (877) 548-3675. Remember, if you can't call or if you 0:00:49.920 --> 0:00:54.200 can't get through, just go to our website, Online radio.org 0:00:54.200 --> 0:00:56.640 and you'll click on the link that says Ask Michael 0:00:56.680 --> 0:01:00.790 a question and you can then go to a page 0:01:00.790 --> 0:01:03.470 where you can post your question and it'll come to us. 0:01:03.510 --> 0:01:06.270 Trish will put it in the mailbag. Uh, do you 0:01:06.270 --> 0:01:08.390 have a second cup of coffee? I hope so. I've 0:01:08.390 --> 0:01:11.350 got my second cup of coffee right here, and I 0:01:11.390 --> 0:01:13.670 hope you have your Bible open, because we're going to 0:01:13.709 --> 0:01:16.910 continue talking about the scriptures. We're going to start by 0:01:16.950 --> 0:01:22.590 talking to Angela in Plantation, Florida, listening on WRAL. Welcome 0:01:22.590 --> 0:01:25.190 to Open Line, Angela. How can I help you today? 0:01:25.270 --> 0:01:28.470 Thank you very much. Thank you very much, doctor Ray. 0:01:29.069 --> 0:01:33.430 I love your show. Oh. Thank you. I listen to 0:01:33.470 --> 0:01:39.990 Moody Radio over here at 89.3, and I. I love 0:01:40.030 --> 0:01:43.630 listening to your show as much as I can. I 0:01:43.630 --> 0:01:47.310 have a special love for Jewish people. And now that I. 0:01:47.350 --> 0:01:48.790 Well, you live in the right place. 0:01:48.830 --> 0:01:52.669 Angela, if you love Jewish people, don't you think you're surrounded? 0:01:52.710 --> 0:01:56.630 I do, yes, I do. And I had always loved 0:01:56.950 --> 0:02:00.020 Jewish people for some reason, I would probably find out 0:02:00.020 --> 0:02:06.420 one of these days I. I actually grew up in Colombia. 0:02:07.260 --> 0:02:11.140 I came to the United States when I was 18 0:02:11.940 --> 0:02:15.780 and I grew up Catholic. But when I came to 0:02:15.780 --> 0:02:22.180 this country, I married, um, a Christian person. Um, and I, 0:02:22.340 --> 0:02:28.580 I already had confusion with Catholics and Christians, but, um, 0:02:28.780 --> 0:02:31.619 I really didn't follow. I didn't go to church or 0:02:31.620 --> 0:02:36.540 anything like that. Um, I divorced that gentleman. He died 0:02:37.660 --> 0:02:41.899 a few months ago. And, um, I'm also an alcoholic. 0:02:41.940 --> 0:02:46.780 I was I'm going to Alcoholics Anonymous. I'm working my program, 0:02:47.260 --> 0:02:51.780 and I realize I am I'm confused as to what 0:02:51.780 --> 0:02:55.700 church to go and how to go about finding a 0:02:55.700 --> 0:03:00.400 good church that teaches in the line of the teachings 0:03:00.400 --> 0:03:04.640 that I hear in Moody Radio and I give, um, 0:03:05.080 --> 0:03:09.040 I let people know about your program, especially, uh, and 0:03:09.040 --> 0:03:13.360 looking at my church, shopping for a church last week, um, 0:03:13.680 --> 0:03:18.920 I met a pastor that he is a messianic Jewish Jewish, 0:03:18.919 --> 0:03:23.079 but his mother is not believing in Jesus. So I 0:03:23.120 --> 0:03:25.960 even told him about your radio station. So maybe they 0:03:26.000 --> 0:03:27.880 are listening to you today. 0:03:28.200 --> 0:03:31.320 Maybe. Maybe. Well, let me see if I can help 0:03:31.320 --> 0:03:36.800 you a little bit. Angela. Uh, you know, the there's 0:03:36.840 --> 0:03:40.400 a lot of teaching out there. Uh, and so, first 0:03:40.400 --> 0:03:43.040 of all, what you need to do is find a 0:03:43.040 --> 0:03:47.240 church that agrees on the basics of the faith. Uh, 0:03:47.360 --> 0:03:52.160 which would be that, for example, that, uh, God is 0:03:52.160 --> 0:03:55.440 the creator, that the Lord Jesus is fully God, that 0:03:55.440 --> 0:04:00.310 God is 3 in 1 triune, that Jesus died for 0:04:00.310 --> 0:04:03.390 our sins, that Jesus rose again. Some of these are 0:04:03.390 --> 0:04:08.350 some of the essentials of the faith that Jesus is returning. Uh, 0:04:08.630 --> 0:04:13.150 those are key ideas. Now, there are secondary ideas. Like, 0:04:13.150 --> 0:04:19.590 for example, some people believe in infant baptism. I happen 0:04:19.589 --> 0:04:22.950 not to believe that. I don't think that should separate believers, 0:04:22.950 --> 0:04:25.390 but I would prefer to go to a church which 0:04:25.390 --> 0:04:32.150 has believer baptism rather than, uh, baby baptism. But the 0:04:32.790 --> 0:04:36.430 the difference here is a decision that's made between brothers 0:04:36.430 --> 0:04:39.469 and sisters who can all love the Lord and disagree 0:04:39.470 --> 0:04:43.870 about something, but that this is an area of it's 0:04:43.870 --> 0:04:48.350 a secondary teaching, but it's an area of my preference. 0:04:48.390 --> 0:04:54.070 And then there are other areas of preference. For example, uh, 0:04:54.070 --> 0:04:58.700 I would say that I believe that God has a 0:04:58.700 --> 0:05:03.500 plan for Israel, that he's faithful to his promises. There 0:05:03.540 --> 0:05:07.420 are many churches that believe, and they're good Bible teaching churches, 0:05:07.420 --> 0:05:10.140 but they believe that the promises that God made to 0:05:10.180 --> 0:05:13.820 Israel have been now taken over by the church. I 0:05:13.860 --> 0:05:15.940 don't feel comfortable with that. I think we have great 0:05:15.940 --> 0:05:20.620 promises as the body of Christ, but I think that 0:05:21.339 --> 0:05:24.620 God's going to be faithful to Israel and keep all 0:05:24.620 --> 0:05:29.020 his promises. So I guess what I would say is 0:05:29.140 --> 0:05:33.779 find those issues that are important to you, where a 0:05:33.779 --> 0:05:37.099 church that agrees on the essentials and then on the preferences, 0:05:37.140 --> 0:05:39.660 find a church that agrees with you. And the best 0:05:39.660 --> 0:05:41.420 way I could say that I could find a church 0:05:41.460 --> 0:05:44.620 is I look online, I look at their doctrinal position 0:05:44.620 --> 0:05:48.060 that's usually published. I look at their values. I might 0:05:48.060 --> 0:05:52.140 visit them. Sometimes churches will have sermons posted. I would 0:05:52.140 --> 0:05:56.650 listen to some of those and see about that. Then visit. 0:05:57.250 --> 0:06:01.370 Ask questions. If there's a person in leadership from that 0:06:01.370 --> 0:06:04.729 congregation to answer some of your questions. That's how I 0:06:04.730 --> 0:06:08.130 would go about finding a church. I always tell people, 0:06:08.130 --> 0:06:10.570 just find a church. Probably the simplest way is when 0:06:10.570 --> 0:06:13.529 you go. Make sure that during the sermon, the pastor 0:06:13.529 --> 0:06:16.970 opens the Bible and teaches from the Bible and not 0:06:16.970 --> 0:06:21.849 about politics, not about TV, not about culture, but teaches 0:06:21.850 --> 0:06:23.929 the Word of God and how it relates to our 0:06:23.930 --> 0:06:28.650 our life today. That's probably the best thing to look for. Okay, Angela. 0:06:29.490 --> 0:06:32.490 Perfect. Thank you. Doctor. Right there. I wish I could 0:06:32.490 --> 0:06:35.370 go with you to Israel. That is my. 0:06:35.410 --> 0:06:36.610 Oh, I wish you could, too. 0:06:36.890 --> 0:06:37.810 Before I die. 0:06:38.330 --> 0:06:41.810 Okay. I wish you could come, too. That's great. You know, 0:06:41.850 --> 0:06:44.410 my friend Charlie Dyer always says it's God's will for 0:06:44.410 --> 0:06:47.210 everyone to go to Israel. I don't know if that's true, 0:06:47.210 --> 0:06:50.370 but I think it's. It's a great opportunity when God 0:06:50.370 --> 0:06:52.279 gives it to us. I hope you get to come 0:06:52.279 --> 0:06:56.599 with us sometime. Angela, thanks for calling. Uh, we're going 0:06:56.600 --> 0:07:01.600 to speak with Yee Ping, uh, in Chicago, listening on WNBA. 0:07:01.720 --> 0:07:03.919 Welcome to Open Line. How can I help you? 0:07:03.960 --> 0:07:08.080 Hi. Good morning. Hi. Good morning. Uh, I, I have 0:07:08.080 --> 0:07:12.120 a question about the book of James. Uh, the New 0:07:12.240 --> 0:07:17.360 Testament book. Uh, our church currently study this book. I 0:07:17.360 --> 0:07:22.080 know in the history this book has some, uh, some 0:07:22.240 --> 0:07:27.560 different understanding. But I really treasure this book. So especially, 0:07:27.600 --> 0:07:33.000 you know, chapter two. Talk about, uh, faith after it 0:07:33.080 --> 0:07:36.880 is dead. So I want to, uh, to know what's 0:07:36.880 --> 0:07:38.400 your take on this book. 0:07:39.440 --> 0:07:42.440 Mhm. Well, I think it's a great book. It has 0:07:42.440 --> 0:07:44.400 more structure than a lot of people think. It's not 0:07:44.400 --> 0:07:47.400 just like a book of proverbs for the New Testament. Uh, 0:07:47.400 --> 0:07:50.200 I think it's a really important book because, uh, I 0:07:50.200 --> 0:07:53.470 don't know if you know this, but James in Greek 0:07:53.510 --> 0:07:56.990 is Jacobus. His real name is Jacob, and it was 0:07:56.990 --> 0:07:59.590 a book written to the 12 tribes in the dispersion. 0:07:59.590 --> 0:08:02.750 It's a messianic Jewish epistle, so it has a lot 0:08:02.790 --> 0:08:08.270 of relevance to Jewish people, uh, Jewish believers. Uh, it's 0:08:08.270 --> 0:08:11.230 interesting too, in chapter two where it says, if a 0:08:11.230 --> 0:08:15.750 man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and 0:08:15.750 --> 0:08:20.990 dressed in clothes, uh, that you've I'm sure you've seen that, uh, 0:08:20.990 --> 0:08:23.150 dressed in the fine clothes and a poor man dressed 0:08:23.150 --> 0:08:26.070 in dirty clothes comes in the word that's translated in 0:08:26.070 --> 0:08:30.310 my Bible as meeting in Greek is synagogue. It's if 0:08:30.310 --> 0:08:34.670 anyone comes into your synagogue. So remember, these are Messianic Jews. 0:08:34.670 --> 0:08:38.070 They were still they were calling their congregation a gathering place, 0:08:38.070 --> 0:08:41.790 a synagogue. I think that's interesting. Uh, so, yeah, I 0:08:41.830 --> 0:08:45.030 love the book. But of course, the great issue is, 0:08:45.070 --> 0:08:49.540 does James or Jacob disagree with Paul when it comes 0:08:49.540 --> 0:08:57.059 to justification by faith, uh, it says in uh, uh, 0:08:57.500 --> 0:09:01.340 James 214, what good is it, my brothers, if someone 0:09:01.340 --> 0:09:05.140 says he has faith but does not have works? Can 0:09:05.780 --> 0:09:14.179 his faith save him? Uh, and now it sounds like 0:09:14.179 --> 0:09:16.660 he's saying that you can't. You have to have faith. 0:09:16.660 --> 0:09:21.620 Plus works. That's not what he's saying. Uh, he is saying, uh, 0:09:22.460 --> 0:09:27.339 can that kind of faith save him? Can a faith 0:09:27.340 --> 0:09:30.460 that doesn't produce works in his life that doesn't result 0:09:30.460 --> 0:09:34.420 in fruit? Can that kind of faith save him? He 0:09:34.420 --> 0:09:36.500 goes on to say in verse 19, this is the 0:09:36.500 --> 0:09:39.740 kind of faith he's talking about that can't save a person. 0:09:39.980 --> 0:09:43.140 You believe that God is one. You do well. The 0:09:43.140 --> 0:09:47.300 demons also believe and they shudder. It's not enough to 0:09:47.520 --> 0:09:51.719 acknowledge who God is, we have to commit. That's what 0:09:51.760 --> 0:09:55.760 our faith is. It needs. It needs not just mental assent, 0:09:56.320 --> 0:10:07.200 but heart conviction and a volitional commitment. Uh, so mental assent. 0:10:07.760 --> 0:10:10.400 We have to know the truth. The demons know it. 0:10:10.400 --> 0:10:15.319 That's not enough. But not only that. Uh, not only that, 0:10:15.320 --> 0:10:17.719 we have to have a conviction of the truth of it. 0:10:17.720 --> 0:10:21.640 That's the heart, mind, heart. And then will volition. We 0:10:21.640 --> 0:10:24.160 have to commit to it. We have to follow it. 0:10:24.160 --> 0:10:27.160 And so that's the kind of faith that produces works. 0:10:27.160 --> 0:10:29.920 And that's the kind of faith that saves us. So 0:10:29.960 --> 0:10:33.199 it's not saying faith plus works save us. It's faith 0:10:33.200 --> 0:10:37.360 that produces works that will save us. Does that help? 0:10:39.040 --> 0:10:45.360 Oh, one more request. Uh, doctor, when you read an 0:10:45.760 --> 0:10:48.630 Old Testament commentary, right? 0:10:49.150 --> 0:10:52.750 I wrote I wrote commentaries on the Old Testament, but 0:10:53.150 --> 0:10:56.350 I edited the Moody Bible Commentary with Mike Van Laningham. 0:10:56.350 --> 0:10:57.590 We were co-editors. 0:10:58.870 --> 0:11:00.829 Oh, I can get that book. 0:11:01.429 --> 0:11:03.550 Good. You've got that book. 0:11:04.230 --> 0:11:06.390 Know how I can get that book? 0:11:06.429 --> 0:11:09.630 How about I send you one? Ye, uh, will I 0:11:09.670 --> 0:11:12.710 send you one? Uh, you hang on. The moody Bible 0:11:12.710 --> 0:11:17.630 commentary done by the faculty of Moody Bible Institute. Uh, 0:11:17.630 --> 0:11:20.429 we did it to try and help people understand the scriptures. 0:11:20.429 --> 0:11:22.590 Anyone can get a copy. Just go to your favorite 0:11:22.590 --> 0:11:28.150 bookseller and, uh, online or in person, and you can 0:11:28.150 --> 0:11:30.910 get a copy. I saw one, uh, under Favorite books 0:11:30.910 --> 0:11:34.470 by the staff at a at a major bookstore. I 0:11:34.470 --> 0:11:36.790 think it was at Barnes and Noble. Uh, I saw 0:11:36.830 --> 0:11:39.150 it listed there. You can get it just about anywhere, 0:11:39.150 --> 0:11:41.830 but we'll send you one. It will really help you 0:11:41.830 --> 0:11:45.700 understand the scriptures. When you have a question, you hang on. 0:11:45.700 --> 0:11:47.700 Trish will get your name and address and we'll send 0:11:47.700 --> 0:11:49.940 you one. Thanks for your call. Yee ping. I do 0:11:49.940 --> 0:11:52.700 want to mention that another book that people can get 0:11:52.740 --> 0:11:56.699 our current resource. When you give a gift of any size. 0:11:56.700 --> 0:12:00.339 And we so appreciate every gift. You're so kind in 0:12:00.340 --> 0:12:03.180 helping support this program, but when you give a gift, 0:12:03.179 --> 0:12:06.860 we want to say thank you by sending you the 0:12:06.900 --> 0:12:10.540 Ultimate Bible Dictionary. Everyone should build a library of key 0:12:10.580 --> 0:12:13.179 books that will help them understand it. This is a 0:12:13.340 --> 0:12:16.900 handy size, easy to use Bible dictionary, so if you 0:12:16.900 --> 0:12:20.860 see a name, a place, an event, something in the 0:12:20.900 --> 0:12:23.339 in the scriptures and you say, I wonder what that is. 0:12:23.740 --> 0:12:27.500 This little handy Bible dictionary, the ultimate Bible dictionary published 0:12:27.500 --> 0:12:29.380 by B and H. They are the ones that do 0:12:29.380 --> 0:12:35.420 the Holman CSB. The translation that I think is so helpful, uh, 0:12:35.660 --> 0:12:39.700 that is a great tool, and the way to get 0:12:39.700 --> 0:12:42.660 a copy of this ultimate Bible dictionary is with your 0:12:42.700 --> 0:12:46.130 gift of any size will send you a copy to 0:12:46.170 --> 0:12:56.690 say thanks. Just call (888) 644-7122. That's (888) 644-7122 to give your gift. 0:12:56.690 --> 0:13:00.890 Or you can go to Openline radio.com. We're going to 0:13:00.890 --> 0:13:04.570 take a break here. And uh, when, uh, when we 0:13:04.610 --> 0:13:07.690 come back, we'll take more of your questions. Uh, you're 0:13:07.690 --> 0:13:15.170 listening to Open Line, our phone number here. (877) 548-3675. Uh, 0:13:15.170 --> 0:13:19.809 our Bible study across America will continue, so stay with us. 0:13:19.850 --> 0:13:41.370 More questions. Straight ahead. And we're back. You're listening to 0:13:41.410 --> 0:13:43.679 Open Line with Michael Ray. Dolnick. I'm so glad to 0:13:43.679 --> 0:13:45.800 be with you. If you have a question about the Bible, 0:13:45.840 --> 0:13:53.559 God or the spiritual life, call (877) 548-3675. We'll do our 0:13:53.559 --> 0:13:58.120 best to answer your questions. Uh, you know, I'm so 0:13:58.120 --> 0:14:00.280 grateful for the team. I look at this team here, 0:14:00.280 --> 0:14:02.600 and I'm so grateful for everyone that participates in the 0:14:02.600 --> 0:14:06.640 program and brings it to you. It's really a great 0:14:06.640 --> 0:14:09.040 group of people to work with. And there are other 0:14:09.040 --> 0:14:11.280 people who are part of the team, people who give 0:14:11.280 --> 0:14:14.680 monthly to open line. There are kitchen table partners. Uh, 0:14:14.760 --> 0:14:18.080 I just heard this is a really dear woman, someone 0:14:18.080 --> 0:14:21.880 very special to me. Uh, just notified me that though 0:14:21.880 --> 0:14:24.760 she's in a nursing home, she's made arrangements, that she 0:14:24.760 --> 0:14:28.960 wants to be a kitchen table partner and lives living 0:14:28.960 --> 0:14:33.920 on a fixed income. I thought, oh, that's too generous. 0:14:33.920 --> 0:14:37.640 And yet she was determined to become a kitchen table partner, 0:14:37.640 --> 0:14:41.160 to be part of the team. Uh, really kind kindness 0:14:41.160 --> 0:14:44.860 to me and I am grateful for that. Grateful for 0:14:44.860 --> 0:14:48.540 her generosity. May the Lord bless that. If you want 0:14:48.540 --> 0:14:50.900 to become a kitchen table partner by giving monthly to 0:14:50.940 --> 0:14:55.820 open line so we can be on the air weekly. Uh, how, uh, 0:14:55.820 --> 0:14:59.420 how much we would appreciate that is it's tremendous. Uh, 0:14:59.420 --> 0:15:01.660 and the way we say thank you for that when 0:15:01.660 --> 0:15:04.340 you become a kitchen table partner is by sending you 0:15:04.340 --> 0:15:09.140 a Bible study moment every other week. Uh, you'll get 0:15:09.140 --> 0:15:13.460 it in your email. It's a Bible study produced exclusively 0:15:13.580 --> 0:15:16.860 for our kitchen table partners. It's an audio Bible study. 0:15:16.860 --> 0:15:18.420 You click on it, you get to listen to it. 0:15:18.460 --> 0:15:20.820 It's about ten minutes long. I hope it's something that 0:15:20.820 --> 0:15:24.620 you'll appreciate and enjoy. Uh, and so if you'd like 0:15:24.620 --> 0:15:35.780 to become a kitchen table partner, call (888) 644-7122. That's (888) 644-7122. 0:15:35.820 --> 0:15:40.810 Or you can go to open line radio.org. RG and 0:15:40.810 --> 0:15:42.970 we're going to go right back to the phones now. 0:15:43.330 --> 0:15:47.650 Sharon in Holland, Michigan listening on WGN. Welcome to Open 0:15:47.650 --> 0:15:52.930 Line Sharon. How can I help you. Sharon. 0:15:53.010 --> 0:15:54.970 Faithful to answer all of our questions. 0:15:55.490 --> 0:15:55.850 Oh. 0:15:55.970 --> 0:15:56.610 I'm here. 0:15:57.450 --> 0:15:59.210 Okay, good. I hear you now. 0:16:00.130 --> 0:16:04.690 Okay, good. Um, I have a question about the Levitic tribe, 0:16:04.690 --> 0:16:07.730 and I'm wondering. Moses and Aaron were both born into 0:16:07.730 --> 0:16:11.130 the tribe of Levi. But why do you think the 0:16:11.130 --> 0:16:14.650 tribe was chosen to be priests? When Levi and Simeon 0:16:14.690 --> 0:16:18.450 were both cursed by Jacob for their violence, and neither 0:16:18.450 --> 0:16:21.890 tribe was given land because of that in the Promised Land. 0:16:22.930 --> 0:16:29.130 Mhm. Well, it's really true. When you look at Genesis 49, uh, 0:16:29.530 --> 0:16:34.890 their anger is cursed because of how extensive their, uh, 0:16:36.450 --> 0:16:40.920 attack on, uh, Of those who raped their sister was. 0:16:40.920 --> 0:16:46.040 They went too far in their vengeance. So in Genesis 0:16:46.040 --> 0:16:49.840 49 five through seven, Simeon and Levi are brothers. Their 0:16:49.840 --> 0:16:53.600 knives are vicious weapons. And then it says, for in 0:16:53.600 --> 0:16:56.240 their anger they kill men, and on a whim they 0:16:56.280 --> 0:16:59.840 hamstring oxen. Their anger is cursed, for it is strong, 0:16:59.840 --> 0:17:02.800 and their fury for his cruel. Then he tells them 0:17:02.800 --> 0:17:06.680 what the curse is. I will disperse them throughout Jacob 0:17:07.000 --> 0:17:13.719 and scatter them throughout Israel that they won't receive. A 0:17:13.760 --> 0:17:17.520 geographical inheritance. Because of that, they'll be dispersed throughout the 0:17:17.760 --> 0:17:21.639 the nation. Now, what is true for Levi? You know, 0:17:21.680 --> 0:17:24.280 why did God choose, even though that is a curse, 0:17:24.480 --> 0:17:28.560 to then give them a special blessing? Uh, I keep 0:17:28.560 --> 0:17:33.200 thinking it's the grace of God. Um, when I think about, 0:17:33.440 --> 0:17:35.800 you know, the Bible says that all of us are 0:17:35.800 --> 0:17:40.990 under condemnation because of our disobedience to him. And then 0:17:40.990 --> 0:17:45.750 God in his kindness blesses you. Sharon or me, by 0:17:45.750 --> 0:17:49.229 allowing us to understand who Jesus is and putting our 0:17:49.230 --> 0:17:51.950 trust in him. And all of a sudden we have forgiveness. 0:17:52.550 --> 0:17:54.870 I think in some respects it's the grace of God 0:17:54.869 --> 0:17:57.910 with Levi as well, because what he says is that 0:17:57.910 --> 0:17:59.870 you won't have a portion in the land that's part 0:17:59.869 --> 0:18:02.590 of the curse. But because of that, God says, I'll 0:18:02.590 --> 0:18:07.070 be your portion. Uh, I'll have I'll be your inheritance 0:18:07.230 --> 0:18:09.630 and you can serve me. You'll be scattered throughout the 0:18:09.630 --> 0:18:13.629 land in the in the among the nation. Uh, you'll 0:18:13.630 --> 0:18:17.030 live all sorts of places. You won't have a geographical inheritance, 0:18:17.030 --> 0:18:20.109 but I'll be your inheritance. I'll be your portion. And 0:18:20.109 --> 0:18:23.350 that's why, in his mercy, he chooses Levi to be 0:18:23.350 --> 0:18:26.990 those who serve in the tabernacle and in the temple, 0:18:26.990 --> 0:18:29.550 and even those who will be the priests. The sons 0:18:29.550 --> 0:18:33.629 of Aaron will be the priests. Uh, it's just an example. 0:18:33.670 --> 0:18:37.419 People often will say there is no grace in the 0:18:37.420 --> 0:18:40.100 Old Testament that there's only grace in the New Testament. 0:18:40.100 --> 0:18:42.379 And I think here's a classic example of the grace 0:18:42.380 --> 0:18:46.540 of God right in the Old Testament. Okay, Sharon. 0:18:47.700 --> 0:18:49.780 It's wonderful. Thank you so much. 0:18:50.220 --> 0:18:53.300 Yeah. Good. I'm so glad you called. Thank you. Uh, 0:18:53.300 --> 0:18:57.060 we're going to talk to Karen in Pennsylvania, listening to Wpvm. 0:18:57.380 --> 0:19:00.020 Welcome to Open Line. Karen, how can I help you today? 0:19:01.859 --> 0:19:05.340 I just have a question. Our souls go to God 0:19:05.380 --> 0:19:11.100 immediately when we die. Then who? Then who are the 0:19:11.100 --> 0:19:14.500 dead in Christ that God is going to raise up 0:19:14.619 --> 0:19:15.820 when he returns? 0:19:17.060 --> 0:19:19.700 Well, first of all, it's really clear. It says absent 0:19:19.700 --> 0:19:21.900 from the body is present with the Lord. That's second 0:19:21.900 --> 0:19:28.260 Corinthians five. It says in Philippians one that to live 0:19:28.300 --> 0:19:32.540 is Christ, to die is gain. Uh, to live as 0:19:32.580 --> 0:19:36.490 the we live for the Messiah Jesus. And he said 0:19:36.530 --> 0:19:38.970 to the Philippians that it'd be he would prefer to 0:19:38.970 --> 0:19:41.890 go to be with the Lord immediately. But he had 0:19:41.890 --> 0:19:44.570 to stay behind and minister to them at that time. 0:19:44.850 --> 0:19:47.850 So obviously, Paul thought that when he died he would 0:19:47.850 --> 0:19:52.130 go to be with the Lord instantly. Uh, the passage 0:19:52.130 --> 0:19:55.169 where it talks about the dead in Christ rise first. 0:19:55.530 --> 0:20:00.690 The dead in the Messiah rise first is first Thessalonians 0:20:00.930 --> 0:20:05.210 chapter four. And, uh, I want there's something that a 0:20:05.250 --> 0:20:09.210 lot of people miss, uh, when they read it. I 0:20:09.210 --> 0:20:11.570 missed it for years and years and years. Then I 0:20:11.570 --> 0:20:15.130 heard Mike Fabares talking about this, and he pointed something out, 0:20:15.130 --> 0:20:18.730 and I said, bingo. That's really important to note. Uh, 0:20:19.050 --> 0:20:22.330 here's what it says. We don't want you to be uninformed, brothers, 0:20:22.330 --> 0:20:29.650 concerning those who are asleep. Now, that's a euphemism for dead. 0:20:29.850 --> 0:20:33.210 So there in first Thessalonians 413, he says, I don't 0:20:33.210 --> 0:20:37.080 want you to be uninformed concerning those who are dead, 0:20:37.119 --> 0:20:39.960 those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve 0:20:40.000 --> 0:20:44.040 like the rest, who have no hope. Since we believe 0:20:44.040 --> 0:20:47.760 that Jesus died and rose again. Look at this verse 0:20:47.760 --> 0:20:51.720 here in verse 14. In the same way, God will 0:20:51.760 --> 0:20:56.520 bring with him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. 0:20:57.520 --> 0:21:02.720 So when it's saying, when the Lord descends, and who 0:21:02.720 --> 0:21:06.200 is he going to bring with him? Those people whose 0:21:07.000 --> 0:21:11.159 immaterial parts, their their souls, their spirits have gone to 0:21:11.200 --> 0:21:15.200 be with him. When the Lord Jesus descends, he's going 0:21:15.200 --> 0:21:17.440 to bring those people who have died or are with 0:21:17.440 --> 0:21:20.520 him now. And then he says, for we say this 0:21:20.520 --> 0:21:23.120 to you by a revelation from the Lord, we who 0:21:23.119 --> 0:21:25.520 are still alive at the Lord's coming will certainly have 0:21:25.520 --> 0:21:28.840 no advantage over those who have fallen asleep, those who 0:21:28.840 --> 0:21:32.080 have died. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven 0:21:32.080 --> 0:21:34.300 with a shout. Now it says, the Lord will descend 0:21:34.300 --> 0:21:36.700 from heaven with a shout. But in verse 14 it says, 0:21:36.700 --> 0:21:39.860 when he descends, he will bring with him those who 0:21:39.859 --> 0:21:43.620 have fallen asleep. So when he descends from heaven with 0:21:43.619 --> 0:21:46.260 a shout, with the archangel's voice, and with the trumpet 0:21:46.300 --> 0:21:50.060 of God. He's coming with the people whose spirits are 0:21:50.060 --> 0:21:54.260 with him. And then it says, and the dead in Messiah, 0:21:54.300 --> 0:21:58.100 the dead in Christ will rise first. So what this 0:21:58.100 --> 0:22:02.340 is saying is, when the Lord Jesus descends, he's bringing 0:22:02.340 --> 0:22:05.460 the immaterial parts the spirit, the soul, whatever you want 0:22:05.500 --> 0:22:08.379 to call it, of people who have gone to be 0:22:08.380 --> 0:22:12.100 with him, with him, and then their bodies will be 0:22:12.100 --> 0:22:16.700 resurrected at that moment and be reconnected, so to speak, 0:22:17.220 --> 0:22:21.300 and become one with their spirits. And that's when their 0:22:21.300 --> 0:22:26.260 bodies will be resurrected. So you say, who are the ones? 0:22:26.260 --> 0:22:29.500 It's the same ones. First there are spirits. Go to 0:22:29.540 --> 0:22:32.010 be our spirits. Go to be with the Lord. But 0:22:32.010 --> 0:22:35.530 at the resurrection our bodies will be restored to our material. 0:22:35.570 --> 0:22:38.770 Our material part will be restored to the immaterial part. 0:22:38.770 --> 0:22:41.609 We'll be together in immortal fashion. Okay. 0:22:42.250 --> 0:22:44.090 Awesome. Yeah. Thank you so much. 0:22:44.490 --> 0:22:47.090 Yeah. I'm so glad that you called. That's. That's a 0:22:47.090 --> 0:22:49.810 question that troubles people. Shouldn't trouble us. We're going to 0:22:49.810 --> 0:22:51.330 go to be with the Lord the moment we die. 0:22:51.330 --> 0:22:56.290 If we've trusted in Jesus. Uh, and then when when 0:22:56.290 --> 0:23:00.930 he resurrects us, uh, then we'll be, uh, have an immortal, 0:23:00.970 --> 0:23:06.170 glorified body forever. Um, we're going to. Thanks for your call, Karen. 0:23:06.170 --> 0:23:09.609 We're going to talk to Terry in Downers Grove, Illinois, 0:23:09.650 --> 0:23:13.210 listening on Wmbi. Welcome to Open Line. Terry. How can 0:23:13.210 --> 0:23:13.889 I help you? 0:23:14.810 --> 0:23:20.250 Thank you for taking my call. Um, so I've always believed, uh, 0:23:20.250 --> 0:23:23.570 I trusted the Lord when I was 13 years old. Um, 0:23:24.250 --> 0:23:29.010 and I've always had that assurance in my my heart 0:23:29.210 --> 0:23:35.320 and my my life. Um, so if. Okay. So when 0:23:35.640 --> 0:23:42.280 I believed, um, I was led to believe, uh, from 0:23:42.280 --> 0:23:48.600 my pastor that the, um, that my name was written 0:23:48.600 --> 0:23:51.880 in the book of life. Do you agree with that? 0:23:52.280 --> 0:23:52.960 Yeah, sure. 0:23:53.880 --> 0:23:59.800 Okay. Can. So can will God ever unwrite your name 0:23:59.800 --> 0:24:04.360 or take your name out of the book of life? Well. 0:24:05.160 --> 0:24:09.800 The Bible says that in John 637 through 40, Jesus said, 0:24:09.800 --> 0:24:11.520 I have come not to do my will, but the 0:24:11.520 --> 0:24:16.600 will of him who sent me. Okay, so Jesus always 0:24:16.600 --> 0:24:18.679 does the father's will, or he's not who he claimed 0:24:18.680 --> 0:24:22.320 to be, right? Right. And then it's then he goes 0:24:22.320 --> 0:24:24.680 on to say, and this is the will of him 0:24:24.680 --> 0:24:27.600 who sent me that of all that he has given me, 0:24:27.600 --> 0:24:30.590 I lose not one of them. So if Jesus could 0:24:30.590 --> 0:24:36.790 use lose me or lose you, wow. Then he's not 0:24:36.830 --> 0:24:39.030 who he claimed to be. So you're right in believing 0:24:39.030 --> 0:24:43.030 that we're secure and safe because his grip is a 0:24:43.030 --> 0:24:46.110 lot stronger than ours. He'll hold on to us. The 0:24:46.109 --> 0:24:50.429 verses in revelation that talk about being written out of 0:24:50.430 --> 0:24:54.870 the Book of Life. I think people misunderstand them because 0:24:54.869 --> 0:24:59.030 what he says is us. The victor will be dressed 0:24:59.030 --> 0:25:01.670 in white clothes, and I will never erase his name 0:25:01.670 --> 0:25:05.110 from the book of life. That doesn't mean that he would, 0:25:05.150 --> 0:25:07.750 but he you know, what he is saying is this 0:25:07.750 --> 0:25:12.070 is a message of assurance. You are safe and secure. 0:25:12.070 --> 0:25:15.710 If you have trusted in Jesus, your name will never 0:25:15.750 --> 0:25:17.710 be written out of the book of life. It will 0:25:17.710 --> 0:25:21.109 never be erased. And so that's a great promise to 0:25:21.150 --> 0:25:24.669 hang to. Now that we've trusted in Jesus, we're safe. 0:25:24.869 --> 0:25:28.859 We're secure. His grip is a lot firmer than ours. 0:25:28.859 --> 0:25:31.540 We can't hold on to him as well as he 0:25:31.540 --> 0:25:34.940 can hold on to us, and he will never erase 0:25:34.980 --> 0:25:37.940 us from the book of Life. Is that helpful, Terry? 0:25:38.980 --> 0:25:41.580 It is, but I have a little bit of a 0:25:42.140 --> 0:25:43.780 follow up here, so wait. 0:25:43.780 --> 0:25:46.540 Wait, we don't have time for a follow up. Terry. 0:25:46.580 --> 0:25:49.500 We got music playing. We're going to be going out 0:25:49.500 --> 0:25:52.060 on this break. We're coming back with the mailbag. Call 0:25:52.100 --> 0:25:55.060 back with your follow up. Okay. Thanks for your call. 0:25:55.060 --> 0:25:57.340 We're going to be right back with more questions right 0:25:57.340 --> 0:26:14.060 here on Open Line. Welcome back to Open Line. It's 0:26:14.060 --> 0:26:17.980 time for the Febc mailbag. We're so grateful for Far 0:26:17.980 --> 0:26:21.660 Eastern Broadcasting Company for partnering with us in bringing you 0:26:21.660 --> 0:26:25.980 the mailbag every week. And I especially appreciate this ministry 0:26:26.080 --> 0:26:31.520 with which reaches people through media, but also through personal touch. Right. 0:26:31.600 --> 0:26:35.520 All around the world, it's a marvelous ministry. And if 0:26:35.520 --> 0:26:39.439 you can hear all about what they're doing by listening 0:26:39.440 --> 0:26:42.960 to their podcasts, it's called Until All I've Heard. It 0:26:42.960 --> 0:26:45.880 features Ed Cannon and Wayne Shepherd. I think you'll really 0:26:45.880 --> 0:26:49.480 enjoy it. You can go to their website to check 0:26:49.480 --> 0:26:52.880 it out. And joining me right now with the Febc 0:26:52.920 --> 0:26:59.400 mailbag that she puts together every week is Tricia McMillan. Hello. Hey, Tricia. Uh, 0:26:59.400 --> 0:27:03.760 so people I actually I'm amazing. My, my phone is 0:27:03.760 --> 0:27:08.520 blowing up with messages on Facebook because I mentioned that 0:27:08.520 --> 0:27:11.320 I'm going to Israel in September, September 7th through the 18th. 0:27:11.320 --> 0:27:14.600 And there there's a few spaces left and only a 0:27:14.600 --> 0:27:16.639 few more weeks. I think it's going to be two 0:27:16.640 --> 0:27:19.000 weeks and we're closing that down. So if you want 0:27:19.000 --> 0:27:21.240 to go, now's the time to go. Someone wanted to 0:27:21.280 --> 0:27:23.240 know about how many people are going on this trip. 0:27:23.240 --> 0:27:26.230 I'd say about 60 if we fill up the spaces. 0:27:26.270 --> 0:27:29.030 Okay, so it's a small trip. Is that two buses? 0:27:29.590 --> 0:27:30.270 One bus? 0:27:30.310 --> 0:27:32.270 Yeah, it's two small buses. 0:27:32.470 --> 0:27:33.550 Small buses. Okay. 0:27:33.590 --> 0:27:35.990 Yeah. And I'm on the bus with people. I don't 0:27:35.990 --> 0:27:38.830 just show up and teach at the sites. Uh, I'm 0:27:38.869 --> 0:27:43.030 on the buses with people. Alternate days. And if we 0:27:43.030 --> 0:27:47.150 have two buses and, uh, it's it's a lot of fun. Uh, 0:27:47.150 --> 0:27:50.630 we're together all the time. We're in the same hotel. Uh, 0:27:50.670 --> 0:27:54.950 it's it's it's it's a really, uh, very close knit 0:27:54.990 --> 0:27:56.990 group of people that that go. 0:27:57.030 --> 0:28:00.590 Yeah, that's very cool. And I did add a link, um, 0:28:00.790 --> 0:28:03.670 to the website for people who do want to know 0:28:03.670 --> 0:28:06.430 more about that. It's currently under our one. I will 0:28:06.430 --> 0:28:09.350 also add it under our two, in case you're only 0:28:09.350 --> 0:28:12.230 hearing this hour or you happen to get the podcast 0:28:12.230 --> 0:28:14.710 and you just download this one hour. So I will 0:28:14.710 --> 0:28:17.470 add it there as well. But it's currently under our one. 0:28:17.470 --> 0:28:18.909 If you go to the website, there's a link to 0:28:18.950 --> 0:28:19.870 the Israel trip. 0:28:20.390 --> 0:28:22.830 Oh that's great. Yeah, I'm really excited about it. I 0:28:22.830 --> 0:28:25.420 haven't been in a couple of years, and I actually 0:28:25.420 --> 0:28:28.179 may go to this summer just to see some family 0:28:29.020 --> 0:28:31.100 and not to lead a trip. I'm trying to I'm 0:28:31.140 --> 0:28:32.820 trying to carve out a week or two so I 0:28:32.820 --> 0:28:35.179 can go to Israel, but I have. 0:28:35.180 --> 0:28:37.900 To wait personal things and not just to to teach. 0:28:37.940 --> 0:28:40.100 Yeah, I haven't seen my family and I really need 0:28:40.140 --> 0:28:42.940 to see. Uh, these are, you know, people say, well, 0:28:43.140 --> 0:28:45.940 they're second cousins. What? They're kind of distant. Why do 0:28:45.940 --> 0:28:49.420 you care so much? Well, we've lost most of our 0:28:49.420 --> 0:28:56.540 family in the Holocaust. Both sides. There's their family. My family. Uh, and, uh, 0:28:56.540 --> 0:29:01.700 as a result, we're much closer than than you would think. Uh, 0:29:01.700 --> 0:29:05.020 for second cousins, it's. I feel like those are my 0:29:05.020 --> 0:29:09.100 extended brothers and sisters there in Israel. You know, family. Yeah, 0:29:09.180 --> 0:29:11.740 very little family. And they I love them so much. So. 0:29:11.780 --> 0:29:15.260 Got to go see them. Yeah. Anyway, uh, let's, uh, 0:29:16.300 --> 0:29:18.100 by the way, wasn't that fun? One of the things 0:29:18.100 --> 0:29:21.620 that I love about bringing people to Israel is I 0:29:21.620 --> 0:29:24.690 always bring my family one night to meet, and I 0:29:24.690 --> 0:29:27.730 think it's really cool for people to meet real Israelis, 0:29:28.130 --> 0:29:32.130 you know, not not just, uh, you know, people from 0:29:32.170 --> 0:29:36.090 the tourist industry like guides or hotel personnel, but to 0:29:36.130 --> 0:29:39.450 meet Israelis who are just regular Israelis. And I bring 0:29:39.450 --> 0:29:43.170 my cousins and their kids and they they speak to 0:29:43.170 --> 0:29:45.210 our group. And I think it's always so much fun. 0:29:45.570 --> 0:29:47.570 It is. It was really neat to hear them and 0:29:47.570 --> 0:29:50.490 hear what life is like. And just to, I guess, 0:29:50.490 --> 0:29:56.010 form that relationship, even just a surface relationship with, with, um, 0:29:56.010 --> 0:29:59.170 people who live in the land and aren't, aren't being 0:29:59.170 --> 0:30:01.250 paid to they're. 0:30:01.250 --> 0:30:02.810 Not being paid to talk to tourists. 0:30:02.850 --> 0:30:05.850 Now, I will say the guides are amazing, but, um, 0:30:05.850 --> 0:30:08.050 and so were all of the staff and everyone that 0:30:08.050 --> 0:30:11.050 we worked with. But there was nothing that nothing that 0:30:11.050 --> 0:30:14.970 your family was gaining, you know, to to. 0:30:15.010 --> 0:30:16.010 Come and visit with us. 0:30:16.410 --> 0:30:17.970 Their time to do that. Yeah. It was a lot 0:30:18.010 --> 0:30:18.330 of fun. 0:30:18.370 --> 0:30:22.080 Yeah. Yeah. I think it's so funny. Uh, that once 0:30:22.080 --> 0:30:24.240 I was up in the north, near where my cousin 0:30:24.240 --> 0:30:29.080 Dena lives, and I had about, I don't know, about 0:30:29.080 --> 0:30:31.840 60 people with me, and she said, how come you 0:30:31.840 --> 0:30:33.440 didn't bring them to my house? I would have given 0:30:33.440 --> 0:30:36.840 them a coffee. And I said, 60 people. She said, 0:30:36.840 --> 0:30:39.400 I said, that's why would you do that? She said, 0:30:39.400 --> 0:30:43.880 why not? So she went to give coffee to everyone. 0:30:44.120 --> 0:30:48.520 I think that was so funny. Um, so anyway, uh, 0:30:48.520 --> 0:30:51.000 we're going to get to the mailbag. Why don't we 0:30:51.360 --> 0:30:52.160 do some of those? 0:30:52.200 --> 0:30:55.600 All right. First question is from Kenneth in Illinois, listens 0:30:55.600 --> 0:30:59.120 to WNBA. Is there anything in Scripture that would indicate 0:30:59.120 --> 0:31:02.400 what God was doing before creation? One of his sons 0:31:02.400 --> 0:31:05.520 wondered if the Lord created other universes before this one. 0:31:07.040 --> 0:31:11.840 Mhm. You know, uh, Paul wrote to the Corinthians, don't 0:31:11.840 --> 0:31:15.080 go beyond that which is written. And so I'm not 0:31:15.080 --> 0:31:19.640 going to speculate. Uh, but I suppose he, you could 0:31:19.790 --> 0:31:24.510 read the C.S. Lewis trilogy. You know where he does 0:31:24.550 --> 0:31:26.270 fantasy novel Perelandra. 0:31:26.310 --> 0:31:27.590 That one? Yeah. Okay. 0:31:27.630 --> 0:31:31.110 Yeah. There's the out of the Silent Planet, perelandra. That 0:31:31.150 --> 0:31:35.390 Hideous Strength, uh, kind of gives ideas of other, uh, 0:31:35.390 --> 0:31:38.950 other other planets, I don't know. You know, but. 0:31:38.950 --> 0:31:43.030 The Bible that we have doesn't indicate anything. No. Okay. 0:31:43.670 --> 0:31:49.030 All right. That's easy, I guess. Yeah. I'm sorry. That's 0:31:49.030 --> 0:31:52.470 all right. Vicky in Minnesota listens to KFC and says 0:31:52.470 --> 0:31:57.670 she is reading 50 most important Bible questions and good book. 0:31:57.710 --> 0:32:00.750 It is. It is book by you. Written by you. Um, 0:32:00.790 --> 0:32:05.270 by Michael Redlick. Um, question 34, she says, was about 0:32:05.270 --> 0:32:08.030 the Lord Jesus descending into hell between Good Friday and 0:32:08.030 --> 0:32:11.350 Resurrection Sunday. And you state that you don't believe Jesus 0:32:11.350 --> 0:32:14.950 went to hell then. So she wants to know, did 0:32:14.950 --> 0:32:18.310 God then include an opportunity for those before Christ came 0:32:18.380 --> 0:32:20.420 and those who have never heard of Jesus to have 0:32:20.460 --> 0:32:21.340 eternal life. 0:32:23.260 --> 0:32:27.700 Well, you know the question about did the Lord Jesus 0:32:27.700 --> 0:32:35.820 descend to hell? That's from the the the Apostle's Creed, right? Uh, 0:32:36.060 --> 0:32:40.540 where it says he died, he descended to hell and 0:32:40.540 --> 0:32:44.580 then was raised. Isn't that where it is, Tricia? Am 0:32:44.580 --> 0:32:47.300 I getting it wrong? I'm judging from your. 0:32:47.300 --> 0:32:50.300 Face, sir. No, don't judge by my face, okay? You're fine. 0:32:50.340 --> 0:32:51.740 So don't judge by my face. 0:32:52.500 --> 0:32:58.100 So, uh, it's in the Apostles Creed. And, uh. And 0:32:58.100 --> 0:33:02.780 so the thing is, in the earliest editions of the 0:33:02.780 --> 0:33:06.420 Apostles Creed, it didn't say that. It only said that 0:33:06.420 --> 0:33:08.979 he died. It didn't say that he descended to hell. 0:33:09.300 --> 0:33:12.340 I think that it was a later edition. The evidence 0:33:12.340 --> 0:33:15.780 is there. The Bible doesn't teach anywhere. I. I believe 0:33:15.820 --> 0:33:18.200 you can see that in the book that Jesus descended 0:33:18.200 --> 0:33:22.320 to hell. But it's not really related to the question 0:33:22.680 --> 0:33:27.000 of people getting an opportunity before Christ came, because people 0:33:27.000 --> 0:33:29.800 were always saved by grace through faith. Even before the 0:33:29.800 --> 0:33:34.440 Lord Jesus was incarnate on this earth in his ministry. People, uh, 0:33:34.600 --> 0:33:37.120 how were people saved in the Old Testament? By grace 0:33:37.120 --> 0:33:40.360 through faith in the revealed will of God? Uh, the 0:33:40.360 --> 0:33:42.720 Bible revealed that there was a coming Messiah. That's what 0:33:42.720 --> 0:33:46.960 they had to believe. Uh, but they they didn't have 0:33:46.960 --> 0:33:50.040 to believe in Jesus death and resurrection for them because 0:33:50.080 --> 0:33:52.560 it hadn't happened yet. They had to believe in the 0:33:52.560 --> 0:33:56.840 revealed will of God, which was to trust him, uh, 0:33:57.080 --> 0:34:00.880 and and trust the sacrificial system and look forward to 0:34:00.920 --> 0:34:05.440 the coming of the Messiah. So, uh, God, include an 0:34:05.440 --> 0:34:08.640 opportunity for those before Christ came? Yeah. Of course, it 0:34:08.640 --> 0:34:12.800 was revealed that they had to trust in what God 0:34:12.840 --> 0:34:17.310 had revealed. Uh, and what about those who never heard? Well, 0:34:17.469 --> 0:34:20.670 again this the Lord Jesus didn't come to give people 0:34:20.670 --> 0:34:23.430 a second chance. If even if you believed he descended 0:34:23.430 --> 0:34:25.989 to hell. It's not to give people a second chance. 0:34:26.030 --> 0:34:27.990 That's that's not what it was. It was to proclaim 0:34:27.989 --> 0:34:33.310 victory over demons is what people who believe in the 0:34:33.310 --> 0:34:36.590 descent to hell. That's they're not there for a second chance. 0:34:36.590 --> 0:34:42.830 People were given all sorts of opportunities to believe before death, 0:34:42.830 --> 0:34:45.790 and that's what God wants them to have. Those who 0:34:45.790 --> 0:34:49.350 never heard, they had the witness of creation. The Bible 0:34:49.350 --> 0:34:52.310 says in Romans one that the creation reveals that there's 0:34:52.310 --> 0:34:54.109 a God. And if they had responded to that, he 0:34:54.110 --> 0:34:57.509 would have given them more information. So this really the 0:34:57.510 --> 0:35:00.310 question of Did Jesus to send to hell doesn't really 0:35:00.310 --> 0:35:03.510 relate to the question of opportunity for those before Christ 0:35:03.510 --> 0:35:06.469 or those who never heard of Jesus. Uh, it just 0:35:06.469 --> 0:35:08.390 doesn't have anything to do with that at all. 0:35:08.790 --> 0:35:11.910 So but they did have that opportunity. 0:35:12.469 --> 0:35:14.900 Well, yeah. You know, I think it's so important for 0:35:14.900 --> 0:35:18.900 people who have never heard of Jesus even today. Uh, 0:35:19.180 --> 0:35:22.339 people say, well, that wouldn't be fair of God, but 0:35:22.340 --> 0:35:27.420 God gave them general revelation. And it's mentioned here in 0:35:27.420 --> 0:35:32.980 Romans one. I'm going to read it to you. It 0:35:32.980 --> 0:35:37.820 says in Romans 120 for his invisible attributes, that is, 0:35:38.100 --> 0:35:43.180 his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen 0:35:43.540 --> 0:35:48.420 since the creation of the world, being understood through what 0:35:48.420 --> 0:35:53.180 he has made through the creation. As a result, people 0:35:53.180 --> 0:35:55.860 are without excuse. You say, well, they didn't know about Jesus. 0:35:55.860 --> 0:35:58.060 They have to believe in Jesus. Well, if people would 0:35:58.060 --> 0:36:02.820 respond to the creation, to the general revelation that God gave, 0:36:03.020 --> 0:36:07.620 he would send more special revelation about the Messiah. Uh, 0:36:07.940 --> 0:36:10.860 there is a book by Don Richardson that I read 0:36:10.860 --> 0:36:14.330 many years ago in college called eternity in their hearts, 0:36:14.330 --> 0:36:18.050 and that book detailed how when they people in tribes 0:36:18.050 --> 0:36:21.770 that had never heard of Jesus, when they responded to 0:36:21.810 --> 0:36:26.050 the creation, when they responded to God's revelation in creation, 0:36:26.489 --> 0:36:29.370 that's when the missionaries came and told them about Jesus. 0:36:30.210 --> 0:36:34.690 Mm. That's really cool. So, yeah. Okay. And that was 0:36:34.690 --> 0:36:37.890 Romans 120. In case someone wanted to know what that 0:36:37.890 --> 0:36:40.690 verse was. So thank you for that. You want to 0:36:40.690 --> 0:36:42.330 try and do one more? This one's pretty. 0:36:42.330 --> 0:36:42.529 Short. 0:36:42.690 --> 0:36:47.090 One more. Okay. Rosemary in Florida listens to and wants 0:36:47.090 --> 0:36:48.810 to know why we don't keep the Sabbath. 0:36:51.330 --> 0:36:53.850 How does she know I don't keep the Sabbath? Uh huh. So. 0:36:54.730 --> 0:36:56.850 Giving you an opportunity here? Yeah. 0:36:57.730 --> 0:37:03.130 Well, uh, just simply put, the Sabbath was the sign 0:37:03.130 --> 0:37:06.490 of the Law of Moses. Uh, today we're still under 0:37:06.489 --> 0:37:09.890 a law, but now it's the law of Messiah. But 0:37:09.890 --> 0:37:12.880 the principles of the law of Moses. The wisdom of 0:37:12.880 --> 0:37:16.560 the law of Moses applies. And so what we can 0:37:16.560 --> 0:37:18.680 do is I think we all need to have a Sabbath. 0:37:18.680 --> 0:37:21.520 I think we need a day of rest and spiritual renewal. 0:37:21.520 --> 0:37:26.520 That's what the Sabbath taught. And Romans 14 verse five says, 0:37:26.520 --> 0:37:29.120 one man honors one day above another. Another views them 0:37:29.120 --> 0:37:33.279 all alike. Uh, let each man be convinced in his 0:37:33.280 --> 0:37:37.760 own mind. And so basically what it's saying is that 0:37:37.760 --> 0:37:40.719 you can keep Saturday, you can keep Friday, you can 0:37:40.719 --> 0:37:49.000 keep Thursday or Sunday. Um, but but the key is 0:37:49.000 --> 0:37:51.640 that we take a day. We keep the Sabbath. Not 0:37:51.680 --> 0:37:55.480 on Saturday necessarily. You can on Saturday if you want. 0:37:55.520 --> 0:37:57.239 But what we need to keep is a day for 0:37:57.239 --> 0:38:00.920 spiritual renewal and physical rest. I think that's something that 0:38:00.920 --> 0:38:01.920 we need to keep. 0:38:02.160 --> 0:38:04.800 So okay, what was that verse again in Romans 14. 0:38:04.840 --> 0:38:06.839 Romans 14, verse five. 0:38:06.880 --> 0:38:10.000 Five. Okay. All right. So those of us who. 0:38:10.040 --> 0:38:12.180 I'm quoting from memory there. I got I got to 0:38:12.219 --> 0:38:13.900 look it up to make sure I got it right. 0:38:13.940 --> 0:38:16.379 Yes, that's correct, that's correct. I had Romans 14, but 0:38:16.380 --> 0:38:19.739 I couldn't find the verse quickly. Romans 14 five. So 0:38:19.739 --> 0:38:23.420 those of us who, let's say, for example, are working Saturdays, 0:38:25.100 --> 0:38:29.420 we can still take a Sabbath, right? Yeah. 0:38:29.540 --> 0:38:32.299 So if you work Saturdays like us. Yeah. I take 0:38:32.300 --> 0:38:35.020 the rest of the day off when we're done. Okay. And, uh, 0:38:35.020 --> 0:38:37.780 but some people take Sunday or Monday or whatever. 0:38:37.820 --> 0:38:38.020 Yeah. 0:38:38.020 --> 0:38:41.379 So. Yeah. Uh, well, we're going to break here. Thanks 0:38:41.380 --> 0:38:43.380 for bringing the questions in. And when we come back, 0:38:43.380 --> 0:38:47.299 we'll take more of your questions. That was Tricia McMillan. 0:38:47.300 --> 0:38:49.780 I'm Michael Wright. Stay with us. We'll be right back. 0:39:04.340 --> 0:39:06.940 Welcome back to Open Line. I'm Michael Wright. I want 0:39:06.980 --> 0:39:14.049 to thank Tricia McMillan, Merle. Saint James. Lisa. Uh, everyone, uh, 0:39:14.050 --> 0:39:17.570 that participated in the program today. You guys did great. 0:39:17.570 --> 0:39:22.210 And I so appreciate all your help. Uh, and also, uh, 0:39:22.210 --> 0:39:25.970 I want to thank every caller for, uh, being bold 0:39:25.969 --> 0:39:28.410 enough to give us a call and ask your question. 0:39:28.410 --> 0:39:30.529 Really appreciate that. Those of you who wrote in. Those 0:39:30.530 --> 0:39:34.970 of you who listened, appreciate it. Uh, I just wanted 0:39:34.969 --> 0:39:39.290 to say that now, before I forget, at the end, uh, now, uh, 0:39:40.489 --> 0:39:44.250 a lot of people ask questions about Israel. They have 0:39:44.250 --> 0:39:48.009 questions about the Jewish people. And one of our partners, 0:39:48.010 --> 0:39:52.009 Chosen People Ministries, is offering Why Israel? It's a booklet 0:39:52.850 --> 0:39:56.810 that explores the topic of Israel through the lens of Scripture. 0:39:57.610 --> 0:40:01.170 It answers questions like, has the church replaced Israel? Does 0:40:01.210 --> 0:40:03.529 ethnic Israel still have a future? What should we think 0:40:03.530 --> 0:40:07.570 about Israel today? These will be answered and many more. 0:40:07.570 --> 0:40:11.719 Anymore with this really wonderful book, Why Israel? If you'd 0:40:11.719 --> 0:40:14.520 like a copy, go to our website online Radio.com, and 0:40:15.360 --> 0:40:17.480 scroll down. You'll see a link that says A free 0:40:17.520 --> 0:40:20.879 gift from Chosen People Ministries. Click on that and you'll 0:40:20.880 --> 0:40:22.480 be taken to a page where you can sign up 0:40:22.480 --> 0:40:26.560 for your own copy of Why Israel? We're going to 0:40:26.560 --> 0:40:33.040 talk to Terry in Springfield, Illinois, listening on you. Welcome 0:40:33.040 --> 0:40:35.160 to Open Line, Terry. How can I help you? 0:40:35.880 --> 0:40:38.760 Hello, sir. Um, I don't know how important this is, 0:40:38.760 --> 0:40:41.279 but I'm in the process of going through a one 0:40:41.320 --> 0:40:45.800 year Bible put out through voices of the martyrs. And, uh, 0:40:45.800 --> 0:40:49.480 at the end of First Samuel, they talk about the 0:40:49.480 --> 0:40:54.880 death of King Saul and how eventually, after being wounded, um, 0:40:54.880 --> 0:40:59.160 he basically commits suicide by falling on his sword. But 0:40:59.160 --> 0:41:04.239 then at the beginning of second Samuel, um, they talk 0:41:04.280 --> 0:41:08.109 about an amalekite who claims to have killed him, and 0:41:08.150 --> 0:41:12.230 then in turn, King David has him killed. And so 0:41:12.590 --> 0:41:17.950 I'm confused if there's a discrepancy there or how that 0:41:19.070 --> 0:41:20.990 how that can be reconciled, I guess. 0:41:21.469 --> 0:41:23.270 Terry, I think you got it right. Right at the 0:41:23.270 --> 0:41:27.270 beginning you said the Amalekite claimed it. He didn't do it. 0:41:27.950 --> 0:41:31.270 This is just recording what he claimed. Uh, he thought 0:41:31.270 --> 0:41:36.910 he would, uh, curry favor with King David by telling 0:41:36.910 --> 0:41:40.430 David I killed your foil. You can be king now. Now, 0:41:40.430 --> 0:41:44.230 that's not what happened. And he didn't. It just showed 0:41:44.230 --> 0:41:46.910 what David thought of Saul, how he would never put 0:41:46.910 --> 0:41:49.830 forth his hand against the Lord's anointed, and how he 0:41:49.830 --> 0:41:52.350 would punish a murderer of the king. But the guy 0:41:52.350 --> 0:41:56.190 was stupid. He was foolish because he claimed a murder 0:41:56.190 --> 0:42:00.270 that he didn't commit. And and that's. There's no discrepancy. 0:42:00.590 --> 0:42:06.100 It just shows David's heart, uh, about protecting the honor 0:42:06.100 --> 0:42:12.300 of the king. So. Okay. Did you follow that? 0:42:13.980 --> 0:42:16.660 I suppose it was okay. That's very helpful. 0:42:17.219 --> 0:42:20.100 Okay, good. Well, thanks for your call, Terry. Appreciate it. 0:42:20.100 --> 0:42:24.180 We're going to talk to Geneva in Aurora, Illinois, listening 0:42:24.180 --> 0:42:27.900 on Wmbi. Welcome to Open Line Geneva. How can I 0:42:27.900 --> 0:42:28.420 help you? 0:42:29.900 --> 0:42:33.620 Um, yes. In in the Old Testament, reading about the 0:42:33.620 --> 0:42:38.820 different kings at the end, it talks about the, um, 0:42:39.100 --> 0:42:43.219 events of King David reign from the beginning to the end. 0:42:43.580 --> 0:42:46.540 Note that they are written in the events of the 0:42:46.580 --> 0:42:50.580 Seer Samuel, the events of the prophet Nathan, and the 0:42:50.580 --> 0:42:54.180 events of the seer Gad. And sometimes they say they're 0:42:54.180 --> 0:42:57.980 written in the historical books of the kings of Israel 0:42:57.980 --> 0:43:02.420 and Judah. Are they talking about first and second kings 0:43:02.420 --> 0:43:04.930 in the Bible, or are there different books? 0:43:05.610 --> 0:43:08.129 I think the fact that they're quoting all these other 0:43:08.130 --> 0:43:10.730 books that are not in the Bible is just saying 0:43:10.770 --> 0:43:13.489 our source with some of these other books and, and 0:43:13.489 --> 0:43:18.610 the Bible often will use the inspired text, often used 0:43:18.930 --> 0:43:24.770 non inspired outside books, uh, to as sources that the 0:43:24.770 --> 0:43:27.730 Holy Spirit superintended the human author of the books of 0:43:27.730 --> 0:43:31.009 the Bible to cite from. And I don't believe when 0:43:31.010 --> 0:43:33.489 it talks about the Chronicles of the Kings, that it's 0:43:33.489 --> 0:43:36.089 talking about the books of First and second Kings. It's 0:43:36.090 --> 0:43:40.930 just talking about books that were historical records of the kings, uh, 0:43:41.610 --> 0:43:43.330 from Israel. Okay. 0:43:44.810 --> 0:43:48.130 All right. My second question. Would those historical books be 0:43:48.489 --> 0:43:54.170 in the, um, Jewish book or, um, in the Torah or. 0:43:55.130 --> 0:43:59.930 No, they were just ancient records. Uh, they're not they're 0:43:59.930 --> 0:44:04.040 not the the Hebrew Bible. They have a different order 0:44:04.040 --> 0:44:06.759 in the Hebrew Bible that Jewish people have, but they're 0:44:06.800 --> 0:44:10.520 the same Bible that we have. It's the same. 0:44:10.520 --> 0:44:11.280 Books. Okay. 0:44:11.320 --> 0:44:11.840 Okay. 0:44:12.239 --> 0:44:12.720 All right. 0:44:12.920 --> 0:44:15.360 Thank you very much for taking my question. 0:44:15.400 --> 0:44:20.400 Sure. Geneva. Uh, and, uh, let's see. We're going to 0:44:20.400 --> 0:44:28.080 talk to Larry, uh, in Ohio. Uh, Larry, welcome to 0:44:28.080 --> 0:44:29.600 Open Line. How can I help you? 0:44:30.960 --> 0:44:33.800 Good morning. Michael. It's a pleasure to speak with you. 0:44:34.560 --> 0:44:36.920 Thank you. Good talking with you, too. How can I. 0:44:36.920 --> 0:44:41.959 Help? Regarding my question is regarding the Reformed Church and 0:44:41.960 --> 0:44:46.960 their theology. What did the proponents of it feel necessary 0:44:46.960 --> 0:44:51.400 to have? Reformed theology? 0:44:51.960 --> 0:44:59.160 Really, the root of reformed theology is the Reformation that, uh, 0:44:59.600 --> 0:45:04.259 in the 16th century tree began with began with Lutheranism, 0:45:04.260 --> 0:45:13.940 which responded to. What was perceived as difficulties with Roman Catholicism, 0:45:13.940 --> 0:45:17.180 particularly in the area of justification by faith, and then 0:45:17.900 --> 0:45:24.260 in Geneva, Calvin developed reformed theology, and as a result 0:45:24.260 --> 0:45:27.420 of that, even today there's a lot of people who 0:45:27.460 --> 0:45:30.780 adhere to reformed theology. Anyone that's Protestant, in a sense 0:45:31.100 --> 0:45:36.100 has a reformed theology. But today there's a movement more towards, uh, 0:45:36.100 --> 0:45:39.900 a renewed Calvinism. Uh, and there are all kinds of Calvinists. 0:45:39.900 --> 0:45:45.540 There's very strict Calvinists. There's, there's mild Calvinists. Uh, Moody 0:45:45.540 --> 0:45:48.500 Bible Institute is a reflection of sort of a mild 0:45:48.940 --> 0:45:52.020 a mild Calvinism. It's important because of the issue of 0:45:52.020 --> 0:45:55.300 justification by faith. Uh, a lot of issues that they, 0:45:55.460 --> 0:46:03.969 they're reformed theologians take. But for most it's Justification by faith, uh, and, uh, 0:46:04.010 --> 0:46:07.129 believing that there's nothing we can do to earn our salvation. 0:46:07.130 --> 0:46:11.890 No sacrament, nothing we earn, uh, nothing. But what? Rather 0:46:11.890 --> 0:46:14.930 it is the grace of God through faith. That's what 0:46:14.930 --> 0:46:18.650 justification by faith is. Hope that helps. Larry. Uh, thanks 0:46:18.650 --> 0:46:22.089 for your call. Well, that's the program for week. For 0:46:22.090 --> 0:46:24.730 the week. Thanks for listening, everyone. I can't believe the 0:46:24.730 --> 0:46:27.689 two hours are up. So grateful for all of you. Remember, 0:46:27.730 --> 0:46:30.570 keep in touch with Open Line by going to our website, 0:46:30.610 --> 0:46:34.130 Online radio.org. That page has all the links you're looking for, 0:46:34.170 --> 0:46:36.569 how to get our current resource, how to become a 0:46:36.570 --> 0:46:38.850 kitchen table partner, how to get the gift from Chosen 0:46:38.850 --> 0:46:42.169 People Ministries. It's also got a link about going to 0:46:42.210 --> 0:46:45.210 Israel with me in September. Keep reading the Bible. We'll 0:46:45.210 --> 0:46:48.290 talk about it next week. Open line with Doctor Michael 0:46:48.489 --> 0:46:52.290 Melnick is a production of Moody Radio, a ministry of 0:46:52.330 --> 0:46:54.890 Moody Bible Institute. See you next week.