S1: Hello friends. It's time for the second hour of Open
S1: Line with Doctor Michael Redlich. That's me. It's Moody Radio's
S1: Bible study across America. We're talking about your questions about
S1: the Bible, God and the spiritual life. I'm my. As
S1: I said, my name is Michael Melnick. I'm the academic dean,
S1: and I'm also a professor of Jewish studies and Bible
S1: at Moody Bible Institute. We're live sitting around the radio
S1: kitchen table today taking your questions. So now's the time
S1: to give me a call. Always best at the beginning
S1: of the hour. Uh, it's the best way to get
S1: through the phone number here. (877) 548-3675. That's (877) 548-3675. And remember,
S1: if you can't call, you can always go to our
S1: website openline radio.org and click on the link that says
S1: Ask Michael a question. You can post your question there.
S1: Trish will put it in the mailbag for upcoming weeks.
S1: I hope you have your Bibles open and a second
S1: cup of coffee, because we're going to talk about the scriptures.
S1: So you need your Bible right there. And I think
S1: we need the coffee to keep going. There's a couple
S1: of things I do want to mention. Uh, first of all,
S1: our current resource, which is a book called The Story
S1: of the Bible. It's written by a friend of mine,
S1: Carl Laney, and I. I actually picked this book up myself. Uh,
S1: I saw that he had published it, and I liked
S1: it so much that I thought, well, I like the title,
S1: and I get questions about this so often that I
S1: bought a copy myself, and then I liked it so much,
S1: I said, let's use this as a resource. The reason
S1: is people wonder all the time, how did those ancient
S1: manuscripts become the book that we're supposed to read every day. Uh,
S1: how did it go from divine inspiration to canonicity? How
S1: did the books get put in the Bible to the
S1: transmission and copying of the books all the way to
S1: modern translations? And since people always ask about this, I thought,
S1: what a great resource. How God worked through human authors,
S1: how he used scribes, how he used translators. This book
S1: will give you great confidence in the Bible, in its reliability,
S1: and why we should constantly be reading it and transformed
S1: by it. If you'd like a copy of the story
S1: of the Bible, it's yours. When you give a gift
S1: of any size to open line, just go to our website,
S1: Open Line radio.org or call (888) 644-7122. And also, uh, some
S1: people have been asking me about a Bible study, uh,
S1: thing that I'm doing next year in December, a Caribbean cruise. Uh,
S1: if you're interested in, in joining me for a Bible
S1: study on a cruise ship on a tall ship in
S1: the Caribbean. Just go to my website Michael Wright. Org.
S1: There's a link there with a picture of a cruise ship.
S1: Click on that. You can learn more about that. Now
S1: we're going to go to the phones and talk with uh,
S1: Bob in Chicago, Illinois listening on Wmbi. Welcome to Open Line. Bob.
S1: How can I help you?
S2: Yes. God's blessings. Uh, Michael, uh, listen, I'm working with
S2: a young man who's, uh, who's approached me. Uh, he's
S2: he's a student over at Moody. Okay. And, uh, you
S2: and I studied under you. Okay. Messianic. Uh, okay. And
S2: it was in messianic ministry. Still am.
S1: Huh?
S2: Uh, but but he but he's he's the issues. I'm
S2: looking for clarification. Uh, because we hear so much, uh,
S2: it's to the Jews first. And yet Jesus says he
S2: will not return Until the Great Commission is fulfilled, and
S2: I need clarification on that point.
S1: Well, I'm not sure. I'm not sure what your question
S1: is that. Should we not go to Jewish people with
S1: the gospel?
S2: No, no, it's not that. It's it's the reason the
S2: Jews were the ones that were to initially carry the message. Yeah, okay.
S2: That's to the Jews first. But to reach the Gentiles,
S2: the Gentiles who have become believers in the, in the,
S2: in the King of the Jews has to be fulfilled. Uh, ultimately,
S2: before Jesus returns.
S1: Well, listen, the gospel needs to be proclaimed throughout the
S1: earth in Matthew 24. That's during the tribulation period. Not now.
S1: The rapture can happen at any time. Uh, but it's
S1: really important to know that God always treats the gospel
S1: message in Romans 116 as to the Jewish people pre-eminently
S1: not historically that it went to the Jews first, and
S1: now it's not to the Gentiles. But when it says
S1: in the Great Commission to make disciples of the nations,
S1: what nation is included in there? The Jewish people. Paul
S1: means in Romans 116 that the gospel has primary relevance
S1: to the Jewish people, but it's for all nations. And
S1: I think even even in the book of acts, when
S1: you see it going from Jerusalem to Judea to Samaria,
S1: and then finally to the Gentile world, you have acts 12,
S1: which is the end of the gospel to the Jewish world.
S1: And then it's going to in acts 13, you have
S1: the missionary journeys pick up Richard Longnecker. I pulled this
S1: up right from my computer. He's got a great quote, uh,
S1: about the purpose of acts 12. He says, before Luke
S1: turns to his portrayal of the Christian message to the
S1: Gentile world. He takes the opportunity of presenting two further
S1: glimpse glimpses of God's working on behalf of the believers
S1: in Jerusalem. Luke seems desirous of making the point that
S1: though he is about to portray the advances of the
S1: gospel within the Gentile Gentile world, it should not be
S1: assumed that God was finished with Jerusalem, or that his
S1: activity in the Jewish world was finished. Divine activity on
S1: behalf of the Gentiles does not mean divine inactivity on
S1: behalf of the Jewish world, or unconcerned for Jews. This
S1: is a heresy that has often afflicted, afflicted Gentile Christians
S1: and resulted in horrendous calamities. Do you hear what he
S1: is saying? That just because the gospel is now going
S1: to spread to the Gentile world, doesn't mean that God
S1: isn't working in the Jewish world? And so if someone's
S1: going to go, uh, uh, reach the Jewish people, that's
S1: something that God is working in. He still it still
S1: has primary relevance for Jewish people. And by the way,
S1: one of the things that happens whenever you go reach
S1: Jewish people, everyone gets reached. What I found is if
S1: people go to the Gentile world, they're not usually looking
S1: to reach Jews. But when you go to reach Jews,
S1: the result is there are so many Gentiles wherever you
S1: go that you're still going to be reaching Gentiles. So
S1: does that does that answer your question? I hope, Bob.
S2: It wasn't a question. I'm in Jewish ministry. I understand that,
S2: but he's confused. He's confused about whether or not he
S2: needs to move to Israel to set up a church
S2: in Israel, as opposed to possibly going out and preaching
S2: the word elsewhere.
S3: Well, okay.
S1: You don't have to go to Israel to reach Jewish people.
S1: The Jewish.
S3: People.
S2: Are.
S3: No, no, no, ah, ah. The.
S1: The, the Jewish people are the unreached people right in
S1: our very midst. So hopefully he will if God's calling
S1: him to Jewish ministry, wherever he goes, he'll go out
S1: and reach Jewish people with the gospel. Appreciate your call. Bob, uh,
S1: we're going to talk to James in Webster, Florida, listening
S1: to Wcqs. Welcome to Open Line, James. How can I
S1: help you today?
S4: Yes, sir. I just wanted to ask, uh, it says to, uh,
S4: leave behind all your worldly possessions to follow him. And
S4: he tells the man to sell all of his stuff
S4: and follow him. But then everywhere you see that, it
S4: says to, uh, when you get to heaven, that you'll
S4: walk on streets of gold and live in mansions. And
S4: I was just wondering why. Why is it to give
S4: up everything down here? So when we get to heaven,
S4: we can have it there.
S3: Well.
S1: Is this a genuine question, James? I, I just need
S1: to know. Are you. Are you really thinking you have
S1: to give up all your worldly possessions?
S4: No, sir, I'm not meaning about it like that, but
S4: I mean, he he tells the man.
S1: I understand what you're. I understand the verses. I'm just asking. What?
S1: What is your real question here? James? What are you
S1: concerned about?
S3: Uh.
S4: What if if I make it to heaven? What if
S4: when I get to heaven, I don't want to walk
S4: on streets of gold. And, uh. I don't want to
S4: live in a mansion. I want to live in a
S4: little cabin and have fields of green grass. I mean.
S3: Okay, I don't. Well.
S1: Okay. Now, now, let me clarify what the scriptures actually say. Uh,
S1: the the rich young ruler, he he was told to
S1: sell all his possessions because his possessions meant more to
S1: him than anything else. And and the Lord Jesus knew
S1: what was in humanity. And that's why he told him that.
S1: It's not like he tells that to everyone. Uh, and
S1: then further the streets of gold in heaven. That's metaphorical.
S1: And and not, uh, not necessarily, uh, something to be
S1: taken literally. And in John 14, when the Lord Jesus says, uh,
S1: in my father's house there are many mansions. Uh, let's
S1: be honest that the literal translation, that's King James Version,
S1: but the literal translation is in my father's house there
S1: are many apartments or places to live. So it's not
S1: talking about mansions, necessarily, James. It's just talking about this.
S1: And what is most important is not how you're going
S1: to live, whether the streets are paved with gold or
S1: whether we get a mansion or an apartment. What I
S1: think is really the issue here is what what we
S1: know from, uh, the, uh, Elliott, uh, Jim Elliott, who said, uh,
S1: he is no fool who gives up what he cannot
S1: keep to gain that which he cannot lose. We sometimes
S1: give up our everything about our lives so that we can,
S1: because that's what what knowing him and following him may entail.
S1: But we gain something by following Jesus that we cannot lose.
S1: And that's an eternal relationship with God. And and that's
S1: what it's not talking about streets of gold. That's a metaphor.
S1: It's not talking about many mansions. It's talking about having
S1: an eternal walk and relationship with God that will never
S1: fail us, that will never be taken away from us.
S1: And that's what our goal should be, not worrying about
S1: how we're going to live or where we're going to walk,
S1: it's that we're going to be with the Lord forever. Uh,
S1: and if you're listening and you're thinking, oh, the the
S1: faith is just pie in the sky, it's not. It's
S1: Jesus promised us an abundant life now, an eternal life
S1: with him forever. All our sins will be forgiven, will
S1: be with him forever. I hope. If you're listening and
S1: you would like to experience a forever relationship with God,
S1: all you have to do is trust that Jesus died
S1: for you, taking the punishment for your sin and that
S1: he was raised again, proving he's God and now he's
S1: got the power to to live through you by His
S1: Holy Spirit. Uh, I hope you'll put your trust in
S1: the fact that Jesus died for your sins and rose
S1: again and experienced that forever relationship with God. Uh, you
S1: don't have to wait. You can trust in him right now.
S1: Just tell him by faith. Just tell him I believe
S1: that you died. The Lord Jesus died for me and
S1: rose again. And I'm accepting that in my life right now.
S1: That's all you have to do. Just tell him, uh,
S1: and and then you'll have that forever relationship with God.
S1: We're going to take a break right here. Give you
S1: a chance to respond to that. Let me know. Give
S1: me a call If you've put your trust in Jesus
S1: for the very first time right now by listening and
S1: hearing that and responding to that. Uh, this is open
S1: line with Michael Ray. Dominic. We're going to be back
S1: with more of your Bible questions in just a moment,
S1: so don't go away. Uh, we'll be right back. Welcome
S1: back to Open Line. So glad to be with you. Hey,
S1: I've been talking to a bunch of young people, uh,
S1: speaking in different schools of late. One of the things
S1: that I was struck by is what a great school,
S1: Moody Bible Institute, is for young people as they finish
S1: high school, people think, well, I need to get a job.
S1: And so I have to major in something that will listen.
S1: The most important foundation you can get for life is
S1: understanding how to grow your walk with God, how to
S1: understand His Word, how to serve him no matter what
S1: job you're in. And so I really want to encourage
S1: you no matter where you're going. We're all called to
S1: serve the king. And if you're interested in and no
S1: matter what it is that you're going to do, you're
S1: going to be serving him. That's our first priority. Get
S1: the foundation that you need to do that. The best
S1: way to do that is by checking out Moody Bible Institute.
S1: Now you think I'm too old to go to school,
S1: but you have children, grandchildren really encourage them to check
S1: out if they know the Lord and want to serve him. Uh,
S1: check out, uh, no matter where they're going to get
S1: their job, no matter how they get their paycheck, Moody's
S1: the best place to learn how to serve the Lord.
S1: The Lord in anywhere they go. Check out Moody, Dot,
S1: Edu and maybe even come visit the school. I really
S1: want to encourage people to check that out. Uh, and
S1: we're going to talk now to Doug in Akron, Ohio,
S1: listening on Wtxf. Welcome to Open Line, Doug. How can
S1: I help you today?
S5: Well, my question is, I've heard in the past that
S5: the Holy Spirit will convict you of sin. And I
S5: wondered if there's any scriptural proof or evidence that it
S5: says that that is one of the functions of the
S5: Holy Spirit.
S1: Do you ever feel convicted of sin?
S5: Yes. Yeah. And I yeah. My question is, is that
S5: my conscience or.
S3: Yeah.
S1: Well, I think it's both, actually. Uh, the Holy Spirit
S1: is what our conscience will convict us of sin. But, uh,
S1: generally it doesn't help us if we just feel guilty.
S1: The benefit of the Holy Spirit's ministry is that he
S1: convicts us of sin. So that we put our trust
S1: in Jesus. This is not talking about a believer. In
S1: John 16 it says, uh, this is what the Lord
S1: Jesus says, uh, in John 16 seven. Uh, it's for
S1: your benefit that I go away. He's talking about the
S1: ascension there. Because if I don't go away, the counselor
S1: will not come to you. If I go, I will
S1: send him to you. So it's talking about the Holy Spirit.
S1: He says when he comes, he will convict the world.
S1: It's not talking about believers here. It's talking about the
S1: world about sin, righteousness, and judgment, about sin, because they
S1: don't believe in me. Now think about this. He'll convict
S1: you of sin. Uh, maybe it's the great sin of
S1: not believing in him. Or maybe because you don't, you'll
S1: feel convicted of sin by the Holy Spirit. Because. Not forgiven.
S1: And then about, uh, righteousness. Because I'm going to the father.
S1: He will convict people about the righteousness that is needed
S1: to stand before God. And no one else has it
S1: but the Lord Jesus. He can go stand before the father.
S1: And so it's sort of a sense of he'll convict
S1: them of their lack of righteousness that Jesus alone has.
S1: And then, uh, and then about judgment, because the ruler
S1: of this world has been judged, if the the one
S1: who causes all the rebellion and sin in the world
S1: has been judged through the death of Jesus, and ultimately
S1: through being bound and cast into the abyss and ultimately
S1: cast into the lake of fire, if that one will
S1: face judgment. Anyone that that doesn't know the Lord has
S1: that same destiny. And so there's a sense of I
S1: will be judged for my sin. And so this is
S1: talking about the way the the Holy Spirit works in
S1: people's lives to convict them of sin, righteousness, and judgment.
S1: I often say to people, in order to get saved,
S1: you have to first have to get lost. People have
S1: to have a sense of, uh, of being separated from
S1: God because of their sin. That's what the Holy Spirit
S1: is doing. And then, uh, the result is that they
S1: will trust in Jesus, be forgiven, and by application, if
S1: the Holy Spirit can do that with people who don't
S1: know him, how much more will he do it with
S1: those of us who do know him, in whom he
S1: is dwelling within us already. So that's that's where I
S1: think the scripture is for about the convicting work of
S1: the Holy Spirit.
S5: Okay. Thank you very much.
S3: Okay. Yeah.
S1: Thanks. Thanks for your call. Uh, and we're going to
S1: talk to Stephanie in Cleveland, Tennessee. Uh, listening on Wmw.
S1: Welcome to Open Line, Stephanie. How can I help you today?
S6: Hi, doctor Michael or doctor Nick. I'm sorry.
S3: You can call me Doctor Michael.
S1: You can call me Michael.
S3: You can call me. Uh.
S1: I don't care what you call me. That's fine.
S3: So.
S6: I'm sorry. Um.
S3: Hey, you know, I think I always like it when.
S1: Uh.
S3: There are kids.
S1: That they want to call me Mr. Nick. My friends, children, grandchildren,
S1: they want. And I say, just call me Michael to
S1: those kids. And and they they can't do it. They
S1: call me Doctor Michael. I think.
S3: That's.
S6: Well.
S3: So.
S6: Yeah, I can understand that. Yeah. Um. Thank you. Thank
S6: you for taking my call. I was asked a question
S6: last night, and I, I know you've talked about this before,
S6: and I'm sorry that I could not give a proper answer, but, um,
S6: they asked me about salvation after the rapture, uh, during tribulation.
S6: And I know that, um, there's a remnant and there
S6: was some something about that that you've talked about and
S6: was hoping maybe you could help me answer this question
S6: about the possibility of salvation after the rapture.
S3: Yeah.
S1: Well, at the rapture, everyone that knows this is my belief.
S1: I believe in the pre-tribulation rapture. That means that, uh,
S1: The the Lord will snatch the church up any genuine
S1: believer to be with him, and that will happen sometime
S1: before the tribulation. Then the tribulation begins when Israel signs
S1: a covenant with the false Messiah, the Antichrist. And that's, uh,
S1: found in Daniel 924 through 27. Uh, that's the passage
S1: about that. Uh, but can people so I think just
S1: be clear, Stephanie, you're saying can people be saved in
S1: the tribulation once the tribulation begins? Am I am I
S1: hearing you right?
S6: Yes. That is my question.
S3: Yeah.
S1: Okay. So, uh, it does appear to be so because
S1: you keep seeing people getting saved in the book of
S1: revelation after the tribulation has begun. So here I am
S1: in revelation chapter seven, as I'm turning my pages here. Uh,
S1: and it says that there are 144,000, 12,000 from each tribe.
S1: 144,000 people of Israel. Uh, and they this is what
S1: it says. Don't harm the earth or the sea or
S1: the trees until we seal the slaves of our God
S1: on their foreheads. Uh, and they are sealed to serve him.
S1: It doesn't say what they are sealed to do. What
S1: how their service is going to be, but they, uh.
S1: But it just says that they are sealed as servants
S1: of God. And then the very next paragraph talks about
S1: the vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people and language
S1: which no one could number, standing before the throne and
S1: before the lamb, robed in white with palm branches in
S1: their hands, crying out, salvation belongs to our God. These
S1: are the people who get saved in the tribulation. So
S1: it sounds to me like what we have in revelation
S1: seven is 144,000 Jews who believe in Jesus. They get
S1: saved in the tribulation. They're sealed to serve God. I
S1: think their service is proclaiming the gospel. Think of about
S1: 144,000 Jewish. Billy Graham's out there proclaiming the gospel during
S1: the tribulation, and they win people from every tribe and
S1: tongue and nation. And so that, yes, there's most people
S1: don't realize this, but there's going to be a great
S1: revival in the tribulation period. Okay. There and there, they're
S1: going to win a lot of people to the Lord.
S1: And then those people who are from every tribe and
S1: tongue and nation, they'll win people to the Lord. And
S1: so I think there's going to be a great revival.
S1: I think just as many people as ever, maybe the
S1: greatest revival in history will take place in the worst
S1: time in history, in the tribulation period. Okay, Stephanie. Yeah.
S6: Thank you. Thank you very much. I appreciate.
S1: That. And by the way, then you'll see that there
S1: will be martyrs in revelation six during the tribulation. How
S1: can they be martyrs in the tribulation if if they
S1: didn't get saved in the tribulation, since every believer will
S1: be removed? So yeah, there will there will be martyrs
S1: and there will be great revival. Okay, okay. Thanks for
S1: your call.
S7: Appreciate it. Thank you.
S1: Uh, we're going to talk with Ronald in Elmwood Park, Illinois,
S1: listening on Wmbi, our flagship station. Hello, Ronald. How can
S1: I help you today? Welcome to the young man.
S8: How are you doing?
S1: Thank God. Doing okay? How can I help you?
S8: I am far from a biblical scholar, so please accept
S8: some of my babbling. But anyhow.
S1: There's no babbling, no babbling allowed. Just go ahead with
S1: your question.
S8: There's a. I'm sure there's there's a verse or several
S8: in the Bible. Moses meets Jesus on Mount Sinai and
S8: they and it says to I'm paraphrasing or whatever I'm
S8: doing with it. That day, Jesus spoke to Moses face
S8: to face. And I believe that there's another instance where
S8: Moses is going across the desert, where he goes back
S8: to his tent, and that one evening and Jesus comes
S8: down and he meets him face to face. And pretty sure,
S8: at least in the Mount Sinai, when it says face
S8: to face as a man speaks to another man. But
S8: I believe there's several places in the Bible where it says.
S1: Okay, I got you, I got you. So what's your question?
S8: No one has seen the face of God and lived.
S1: Okay. That's it. And you want to know about how
S1: can Moses speak to God face to face?
S8: Yes, sir.
S1: Okay, good. Uh, so in the book of numbers, when, uh. Uh,
S1: Miriam and Aaron speak against Moses because they get jealous.
S1: They're like, we're we're prophets, too, you know? You should
S1: listen to us, too. God calls them out, and he
S1: and he says in numbers 12, verses six through eight. Uh,
S1: if there is a prophet among you from the Lord,
S1: I will make myself known to him in a vision.
S1: I speak with him in a dream. Uh, not so
S1: with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my household.
S1: I speak with him directly and literally. It says mouth
S1: to mouth. And that's what some versions translate with him.
S1: I speak face to face openly and not in riddles.
S1: He sees the form of the Lord. So what you
S1: have here is Moses speaks to God directly. That's it's
S1: a metaphor, uh, that that they have direct conversation, not
S1: dreams and visions. But it doesn't mean that Moses actually
S1: sees God. That comes from another place. When Moses goes
S1: up on the mountain and they see God. But I
S1: believe what they only see there is they see in
S1: a vision in numbers 2411. Uh, they saw him in
S1: a vision. That's the Hebrew word that's used. So that's
S1: how Moses could see God. Uh, we'll talk more about
S1: that another time. Thanks for your call. We're going to
S1: be right back with the mailbag, so don't go away.
S1: Welcome back to Open Line. I'm so grateful to be
S1: with you. I so appreciate Tricia being back with me.
S1: She's got all the mailbag questions, the Febc mailbag questions, and, uh. Hey, Tricia. Yes, I'm.
S1: I am just amazed. Uh, I have to say, to
S1: hear it did a great job the last couple of
S1: weeks when you weren't in the studio. Uh. And did
S1: she tell you what I told her to warn you about?
S9: I'm not sure if she did.
S1: I told her to worry that you should. She should
S1: tell you the story of Wally Pipp.
S9: Oh. You know.
S1: Do you know the story of Wally Pipp?
S9: I do not. Wally.
S1: Wally Pipp was the first baseman of the Yankees, and
S1: he got injured. And so this is in, uh, this
S1: is about 100 years ago. And so a guy named
S1: Lou Gehrig was replaced him.
S9: Yeah, I've heard of him. Yeah.
S1: Lou Gehrig, Hall of Famer. He set the record for
S1: most continuous games without missing one, uh, 2130 games. That
S1: was later broken by Cal Ripken. But he set the
S1: record for a long time, 2130 consecutive games. And Wally
S1: Pipp lost his job. And so I told her that
S1: you should be a little concerned.
S9: That she should.
S1: Yeah, because you don't want to become the Wally Pipp
S1: of producers.
S9: That's it. It's true, it's true. But we're working together
S9: as a team, she and I. And so. Yeah. So
S9: that neither of us has to be here every week
S9: because we've both been here every week. Um, yeah. In
S9: the background. Often she was in the background. And so, um, yeah.
S9: So we're kind of sharing this and working together as
S9: a team.
S1: Yeah. Which most people don't know about why we need
S1: a team for something like this is because you are
S1: also the producer of Chris Fabry Live, and you're here
S1: during the week. You're I feel bad for you having
S1: to be here on the weekends, but we're part of
S1: a team and I really appreciate the whole big team.
S1: And that teamwork is what makes open line work people. Yeah,
S1: people don't know how important, how much I rely on
S1: the whole team. Omar. You. Tyra. Lisa. Everyone's there, and
S1: I really appreciate it. And I appreciate to our kitchen
S1: table partners. They're part of the team, too. Uh, they
S1: give monthly so I can be on the air weekly.
S1: And they really are part of the team every time
S1: I meet them. I'm so excited when I meet kitchen
S1: table partners. If you'd like to become a kitchen table partner,
S1: be part of the team. What we'll do is we'll
S1: send you a Bible study moment every other week. It's
S1: a special Bible study that you get in your email.
S1: You click on it, and it's an audio Bible study
S1: prepared exclusively for our kitchen table partners. I'm having a
S1: fun time right now with the with the new series,
S1: I'm starting on the work of the father, son, and
S1: Holy Spirit in the book of Ephesians in chapter one
S1: about how they work in our salvation. That's kind of fun.
S9: Yeah, yeah, it's a study we've been talking about for
S9: a while off the air, and so I'm glad it's
S9: finally coming to fruition.
S1: Finally doing it. I appreciate Trish producing that. Uh, and
S1: the way to become a kitchen table partner if you'd
S1: like to become one, is by calling (888) 644-7122. That's (888) 644-7122
S1: or go to open line radio.org. And we so so
S1: appreciate all of you. And now you've got the Febc mailbag.
S1: Thanks for Febc partnering with us to bring the mailbag.
S1: And I want you to check out their podcast Until
S1: all I've heard, because it talks about their great work,
S1: about reaching the nations through media and personal engagement. Uh,
S1: just go to febc.org. Far Eastern Broadcasting Company febc.org. Okay. Tricia,
S1: what have we got?
S9: All right. Kevin in Minnesota listens to Ktis and says,
S9: I had decided that quoting job's three friends to make
S9: a correct biblical point is a bad idea and should
S9: not be done even if they said something accurate because, um,
S9: they were so wrong in the whole book, in the
S9: story with job and have problematic credibility, even if they
S9: have a nice, concise quote. I'd rather use biblical people
S9: who are more accurate and living rightly. Um, but there
S9: are other places where the Bible quotes unbelievers when they
S9: say untrue things. But I was also assuming we shouldn't
S9: use those to support things that we have. However, in
S9: first Corinthians 319, Paul quotes Eliphaz from job 513 so
S9: that seems to shoot my cherished theory down. Can you
S9: please help me with this?
S1: Yeah, I think that shoots your theory down. That's what
S1: I would say. Uh, it's, uh, think about this. Let's
S1: let's just take it out of the hole. Job's friends. Context.
S1: Matthew 16 Jesus says to Peter, who do men say
S1: that I am? He says, you know these different options.
S9: Some say this, some say this.
S1: Yeah. And then he says. But who do you say
S1: that I am? He says, you are the Messiah, the
S1: son of the living God. Jesus says, flesh and blood
S1: has not revealed this to you, but my father. It's
S1: a big deal that that Peter gets that very next
S1: thing the Lord Jesus says is that he's going to Jerusalem.
S1: He's going to be crucified. Peter says, absolutely not. No, no, no.
S1: And what does the Lord Jesus response to him there?
S9: Get behind me, Satan! Isn't that right?
S10: That's it. That's right.
S1: Well, here's the question. Uh, what do we what do
S1: we do with that? Do we never quote Peter because
S1: he was so off on that.
S9: So off or that Jesus calls him Satan?
S10: Exactly.
S9: That's pretty.
S10: Far off.
S1: We just have to assess whether the thing the person
S1: says is true. You're the Messiah. Uh, or uh, or
S1: the or wrong. Never. Lord, you'll never be crucified, right?
S10: Right.
S1: And the same thing with Eliphaz. The same thing with.
S1: With anyone in Scripture. We have to establish whether what
S1: they're saying is overall true. We have the whole Bible
S1: to evaluate it or not. True. And it's okay to
S1: quote one of job's friends as long as what they're
S1: saying is true. Okay. Not not mistaken. So.
S9: Okay.
S1: That does shoot the theory, doesn't it?
S9: It does, it does. But that's a good helpful um,
S9: tool as we're tip as we're studying the Bible. Like
S9: we shouldn't be quoting those that say there is no
S9: God because that's not what we believe. And we have
S9: an entire book that talks about. Yeah, you know, that
S9: kind of supports the opposite of that, even though that
S9: is in the Bible. But but quoting the truth, even
S9: if it is said by someone who is false, like,
S9: like even Balaam and his donkey, like those are not
S9: people that you would quote, generally speaking, however, you know,
S9: there was.
S1: Why can we quote Balaam? Because he got it right.
S1: And that's why we have the story of Balaam's donkey.
S1: Because if God could speak through one donkey, he can
S1: speak through another donkey, right?
S10: That's right. Okay.
S9: Thank you for that question, Kevin. Our next question is
S9: from Franco in Florida. Um, who is confused about Exodus 30?
S9: And actually, any time that something, um, talks about a
S9: perpetual like this is a perpetual thing that God is
S9: setting up or a forever thing was commanded by the
S9: people to do this forever. Um, specifically like sacrifices. Should
S9: Israel still be offering sacrifices like God set up in
S9: Exodus 30 day and night? Um, and then beyond that
S9: kind of, he said, I thought that Jesus had fulfilled
S9: the law. And yet Matthew five he says it will
S9: not pass away before passing, before the passing of heaven
S9: and earth. Can you explain?
S1: Well, first of all, the a lot of the commands
S1: are oh, this is forever. The the words olam the
S1: world forever in Hebrew means until its lifespan for its lifespan. Okay, so.
S1: So when the lifespan of the event is over. No,
S1: you don't have to do it anymore. Uh, so, for example,
S1: in Exodus 21 six, it talks about the the slave
S1: that wants to become doesn't want to be liberated, but
S1: wants to become his master's servant forever, and he gets
S1: his ear pierced. Do you remember that story in Exodus 21?
S1: And then it says he will be his servant forever? Well,
S1: that doesn't mean for all eternity. It means for as
S1: long as he lives. And that's how very often we
S1: have to understand these commands. Like how often should Israel, uh, uh,
S1: offer these sacrifices or burn this incense for as long
S1: as the sacrificial system exists, as long as it lives,
S1: that's how long we do it. Uh, and yes, the
S1: Law of Moses is forever. I open my Bible. We
S1: talk about it all the time. It's right there. The
S1: Torah is in my Bible, and I still can live
S1: by its principles and wisdom, as as we all should.
S1: Because it's the word of God. Uh, but the what?
S1: What the law. What has, uh, been rendered inoperative? Not
S1: that it doesn't exist, but it's not our it's not
S1: our operating system is what it is. Uh, so, uh,
S1: that's that's the key idea. It's not our operating system.
S1: That's the Sinai covenant, the laws that were given. So. Okay,
S1: but they still exist, and they're still there. Okay. And
S1: the reason I say that is the Lord Jesus doesn't
S1: say the law alone. He says the law and the prophets.
S1: And in Matthew, in Matthew five, he's talking about the
S1: Bible as a whole.
S9: Okay. Um, so when it comes to Matthew 28, When
S9: Jesus says, I am with you always.
S1: Different Greek word is it.
S9: I was going to ask what it is even to
S9: the end of the age. Is that just just for
S9: the time, or is that an actual.
S1: For the eons?
S9: Okay, so that is, that is longer than than these
S9: do these.
S1: Sacrifices.
S9: Forever. Okay. Yeah. Okay. Good. That makes me feel good.
S9: Makes me feel better sometimes. You know, you never ask
S9: a question you don't know the answer to. But I
S9: was like, oh, I don't know what the actual Greek
S9: says in that. So thank you for that reassurance. So
S9: that one actually is a forever eternal. Yeah. An eternal
S9: promise from Jesus. Yeah. Okay. That's it. Wonderful. Okay. You
S9: want to do one more?
S1: No. We're going to take a break.
S9: Okay. All right. Sounds good.
S1: Had a good time with that. We'll we'll take more questions.
S1: Send your question in to open line radio.org. All you
S1: have to do is go to our website. Click on
S1: the link that says ask Michael a question and Trish
S1: will uh you can post it there and Trish will
S1: put it in the mailbag. Thanks for your help with this, Tricia. Always.
S1: And thanks for. Thanks for not being Wally Pipp and
S1: coming back. Appreciate it. We're going to be right back
S1: with more of your questions in just a moment, so
S1: don't go away. This is open line with Michael Ray
S1: Dolnick and Tricia McMillan. Welcome back to Open Line. You know,
S1: I should have mentioned this earlier. Uh, someone called in
S1: and wanted to know, is it okay for someone to
S1: still go to the Jewish people today? Because the gospel
S1: was to the Jewish people first and therefore, uh, you know, now,
S1: shouldn't we be reaching the Gentiles so that Jesus can return? Uh, well,
S1: here's the thing. When the Bible says the gospel is
S1: to the Jew first, it doesn't mean that the historically
S1: the gospel went to the Jewish people earlier, and that
S1: now is to the Gentiles. It means to the Jewish
S1: people especially. And and for the whole world. It says,
S1: I am not ashamed of the gospel. It is present tense,
S1: the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes,
S1: to the Jewish people especially, and also to the Gentiles.
S1: That's what that verse means. And yes, we should reach
S1: Jewish people. And there's a great little booklet called To
S1: the Jew first by In the New Millennium, uh, by, uh,
S1: Doctor Al Mohler. And it's being offered for free by
S1: Chosen People Ministries. I hope you'll get a copy. It's
S1: a wonderful little booklet, and it really shows how being
S1: faithful to this message of reaching the Jewish people with
S1: the gospel will, uh, show our our commitment to the
S1: Great Commission and how important it is. And if you'd
S1: like a copy of this wonderful little booklet, all you
S1: have to do is go to our website, openline radio.org.
S1: Scroll down till you come to the link that says
S1: A Free gift from Chosen People Ministries. Click on that.
S1: It'll take you to a page where you can sign
S1: up for your own copy of Al Mohler's to the
S1: Jew first. And now we're going to go to the
S1: phones and talk with Linda listening in Lakeland, Florida on Wcqs.
S1: Welcome to Open Line, Linda. Now is a good season
S1: to be living in Florida, isn't it? It's not too hot.
S11: It's beautiful. It's absolutely gorgeous. It is. It's great times
S11: all around. That's great. My question was I was reading
S11: about when Moses was on the mountain and he was talking.
S11: God was talking to him and he passed by him.
S11: And then Moses came down the mountain. And when he
S11: got down there, they were all worshipping the golden calf. And, um,
S11: he I don't know if he said something to Aaron
S11: or not, but Aaron says, I don't know how it happened.
S11: It just kind of all the pieces, it just formed itself.
S1: I tossed the gold in the fire and out came
S1: this calf.
S11: And out there it is. And then God smote 3000 people. Why?
S11: Why was Aaron, um. You know, not smote.
S1: Why was he not smote? Yeah. Yeah. I wonder about
S1: that myself. Why was Aaron not smote? Uh, here's what
S1: I think. I don't think, uh, not why? I don't
S1: think Aaron really wanted to do this. Uh, I think
S1: that what happened was, uh, that Aaron Aaron was just
S1: pressed by the people. Uh, and I also believe what
S1: happened is that when Moses came down and got really
S1: ticked off, as he should have been, he said, what
S1: did these people do to you that you have led
S1: them into such a great sin? Uh, that's, by the way,
S1: that's in Exodus 32, verse 24, he says, when I
S1: threw it in the fire, out came this calf. And
S1: Moses saw the people were out of control, for Aaron
S1: had let them get out of control, resulting in weakness
S1: before their enemies and the Levites. So then this is
S1: what the Lord, the God of Israel, says. Every man
S1: fastened his sword to his side. Go back and forth
S1: through the camp from entrance to entrance, and each of
S1: you kill his brother, his friend, and his neighbor. The
S1: Levites did as Moses commanded in about 3000 men fell
S1: dead that day among the people afterward. Today you have
S1: been dedicated to the Lord since each of you. Each
S1: man went against his son and his brother. Therefore you
S1: have brought a blessing on yourselves today. Okay, here's what
S1: I think happened. Moses came down, yelled at his brother,
S1: as he should have, and probably many, many more people
S1: had been involved in in Golden calf worship. But Aaron stopped,
S1: as did the rest of Israel. But 3000 were like,
S1: we're not going to listen to Moses. We're going to persist.
S1: And those are the ones that perished, the ones that
S1: would not stop worshiping the golden calf when Moses put
S1: a stop to it. That's why. And Aaron had put
S1: a stop to it in his own life. He wasn't
S1: even doing it. He was just stupidly, you know, those
S1: are my people. I must lead them. Let me. Let
S1: me do whatever they want. That is ridiculous. So, yeah,
S1: but that's what he did. Yeah. And by the way,
S1: what follows after that are all the Levitical laws. Uh,
S1: the Priestly Code follows because Aaron was a failure as
S1: a priest. So they had to get more laws for
S1: the priest. So.
S11: Um, can I ask you one more question.
S1: Related to this? Uh.
S11: Well, it's about Moses.
S7: Okay. Go ahead.
S11: When Moses, uh, it says that Moses can see the
S11: Promised land. He couldn't go in it because of his sin.
S11: But he saw the Promised Land. Did Aaron go into
S11: the Promised Land?
S7: No.
S1: Both. Aaron died before Moses did. Before, even while they
S1: were still in the wilderness wanderings. And in Leviticus, it
S1: tells us, remember that it's the whole story that Moses struck,
S1: not Leviticus. In, uh, in numbers. Moses struck the rock twice.
S12: Mhm. Yeah. Okay.
S11: Well thank you very much for taking my question. It
S11: it really helped me with Aaron.
S9: We are having technical difficulties again with Michael. Um, and
S9: so we, um, we will uh, checking the clock here.
S9: We are going to try and reconnect with him. Um,
S9: and our next caller is Marlena in Cleveland, Ohio. Marlena,
S9: go ahead with your question on Open Line.
S13: Okay. Uh, a Jewish friend of mine asked me this question.
S13: Jesus remembered the Passover by participating in a Seder. If
S13: Jesus did it, why don't Christians practice this today?
S9: Um, that is a great question. And I know Michael
S9: thinks that, um, that people should I mean, it is
S9: a good thing to do. It is not required. Um, um,
S9: it is not a required thing by Christians to do
S9: to live under the Jewish feasts. However, it can shed
S9: great light on, um, I think it gives a lot
S9: of great. Um. It helps. It gives a fuller understanding
S9: of what was happening at the Passover and remembering that, um,
S9: what was happening, um, when, when they were doing. Okay,
S9: we've got Michael back. Michael. Not much time. But you
S9: want to try and you want to try and help Marlena.
S9: I told her that there's it is not required for
S9: Christians to celebrate and do Seder services, but it does
S9: give great, um, addition to help us understand them.
S1: Yeah, it's kind of fun. And I would say every
S1: time you have the Lord's Supper, in a sense you're
S1: having a little mini Seder, and that's something that we're
S1: supposed to do. And then I think a full seder
S1: is great, but there's no obligation to do it. It's
S1: just a meaningful thing. And it's. I have to tell you, uh,
S1: there are so many believers that agree with you that
S1: it's meaningful, that if I wanted to spend every day
S1: for the month of April and part of March Speaking
S1: someplace and leading a Seder. I would have a very full,
S1: full time because many, many believers would like that. So.
S7: Absolutely.
S1: Yeah. And that's why it's good that people learn. Anyway,
S1: thanks for your call, Marlena. Sorry about the glitch and thanks.
S1: That's the program for this week. Thanks for listening, everyone,
S1: and thanks to the Open Line team. Tricia. Omar. Lisa,
S1: thanks for all that you do. Keep in touch with
S1: Open Line during the week by going to our web page,
S1: Open Line radio.org. It's got all the links you're looking for.
S1: Link to our current resource, how to become a Kitchen
S1: Table Partner, and also a link to my personal web
S1: page if you're interested in traveling with me and studying.
S1: Keep reading the Bible. We're going to talk about it
S1: next week. Open line with Doctor Michael Ray Dolnick is
S1: a production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.
S1: See you next.
S14: Week.