S1: A prominent conservative, was interviewed recently on a very popular
S1: program and he said he only cared for his own
S1: nation and his own people, his own family. He just
S1: doesn't care about Israel and the Jewish people. Should we,
S1: as followers of Jesus, care about the Jewish people? Stay
S1: with me. We'll talk about that in just a moment. Hello, friends.
S1: Welcome to Open Line, Moody Radio's Bible study Across America.
S1: My name is Michael Rolnick. I'm the academic dean and
S1: professor of Jewish studies and Bible at Moody Bible Institute.
S1: I'm so grateful to be able to sit around the
S1: radio kitchen table and join you as we're talking about
S1: your questions about the Bible, God and the spiritual life.
S1: If you have a question and you would like to
S1: call the phone number, here is (877) 548-3675. Let me give
S1: that to you again. You can write it down. (877) 548-3675.
S1: To hear Haynes is in the producer's chair today. Omar
S1: Mendoza is our tech guy. Again, the phone number (877) 548-3675.
S1: Go get yourself a cup of coffee. Open your Bible.
S1: Because we're about to study the scriptures together. Well, this
S1: prominent conservative who said he just didn't care about Israel
S1: or the Jewish people. He's mostly a political commentator. However,
S1: with that said, he also has been outspoken about his faith.
S1: And yet he he doesn't think that his faith should
S1: affect his concerns. Uh, because he said, I just don't care.
S1: I don't care about what's going on in Israel. I
S1: was thinking I could give political answers to this political commentator,
S1: but I think as a Bible believer, I need to
S1: give biblical answers to what he has to say. And
S1: of course, there are many reasons that we should care
S1: about Israel and the Jewish people. But here are five
S1: reasons we should care about Israel and the Jewish people.
S1: First of all, we should care because Israel is distinct
S1: among the nations. What he said is Israel is just
S1: another nation. It's not important. It's insignificant. It's just one
S1: of many nations. And it's a small one at that.
S1: And he just didn't care. Well, uh, this is what
S1: Ezekiel 25 eight says. This is what the Lord God says,
S1: because Moab and Seir said. Seir said, look at the
S1: house of Judah. to look. The house of Judah is
S1: like all the other nations. Therefore I will. I will
S1: indeed expose the flank of Moab, beginning with its frontiers.
S1: Here's what God is saying. He's saying Moab had the
S1: temerity to say that the nation that God chose is
S1: just like any other nation, and it's not significant. God
S1: says no, Israel is significant. It is distinctive. And then
S1: he says, because Moab said that I will execute judgments
S1: on Moab. That's what it says. And then they will
S1: know that I am the Lord. So first of all,
S1: we need to recognize that God has made a choice
S1: to take this nation and make them his nation. Not better,
S1: not stronger, not greater, but beloved by God because he
S1: chose them. So Israel is distinct among the nations, and
S1: we need to be concerned for this nation that God
S1: has made distinctive. Now, second reason that we should care
S1: about Israel and the Jewish people is because God loves
S1: the Jewish people forever. Jeremiah 31 three says this the
S1: Lord says, I have loved you to Israel. I have
S1: loved you with an everlasting love. Therefore I have drawn
S1: you with loving devotion. God loves the Jewish people. He has.
S1: That's the reason he chose them. It's it's total elective love.
S1: It was his choice. It was unconditional. There was no
S1: merit in Israel to cause God to choose Israel. But
S1: God chose Israel and he set his love upon this nation. Now,
S1: some people say God used to love the Jewish people. Uh,
S1: but he doesn't any longer because the Jewish people have
S1: not believed in the Jewish Messiah, Jesus. Well, Paul can
S1: corrects that view in Romans chapter 11. Uh, in chapter 11,
S1: He talks about God's faithfulness to his love for Israel,
S1: regardless of Israel's unbelief in Jesus. Now, Jewish people are
S1: not unbelieving about everything, but they do not, for the
S1: most part, believe in Jesus. I think I would be
S1: an exception, but there are many of us who are
S1: in the remnant that are exceptions. But for the most part,
S1: Jewish people have not yet believed in Jesus. And this
S1: is what it says in Romans 1128 regarding the gospel.
S1: They are enemies for your advantage. That means they are
S1: opposed to the gospel, not enemies of God, but enemies
S1: of the gospel. And it's to the advantage of the Gentiles,
S1: because now the gospel has spread to the whole world.
S1: But then it says, but regarding election or chosen us
S1: chosenness they are loved, present, tense, loved because of the patriarchs,
S1: since God's gracious gifts and calling are irrevocable, Romans 1128
S1: and 29 make it clear that even though most Jewish
S1: people have not believed in Jesus. God still has his
S1: chosen love for them because of the choice of the patriarchs.
S1: And so why should we care about Israel? Because Israel
S1: is distinct among the nations. Because God loves the Jewish
S1: people forever. Also, because God cares about what happens to Israel.
S1: God cares about it in Isaiah 49, 15 and 16.
S1: This is what he says. Can a woman forget her
S1: nursing child or lack compassion for the son of her womb?
S1: Even if she could forget, I will not forget you. Behold,
S1: I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands.
S1: Your walls are ever before me. God says that the
S1: situation in Israel. God's concern about this people is perpetual.
S1: It never stops like a mom who will never forget
S1: her own nursing child. Now, there may be a bad
S1: mom out there that will forget, but God would not
S1: be like that. He is ever concerned for his beloved Israel.
S1: That's so important for us to remember that God cares
S1: about what is happening in Israel. It's not something that's
S1: just pass. Whatever happens, happens. God is carefully observing the
S1: walls of Jerusalem. The concerns of Israel are ever before him.
S1: So we should care because God cares. God Israel is
S1: distinct among the nations. God loves Israel and the Jewish
S1: people forever. God cares about what happens to Israel. Fourthly,
S1: because God will bless us for caring. Genesis 12 three.
S1: One of the most famous verses God says to Abraham
S1: and his descendants, I will bless those who bless you
S1: and curse those who curse you. And all the families
S1: of the earth will be blessed through you. Now again,
S1: people say that is just a an Old Testament idea,
S1: that it's not a New Testament idea. I think it's
S1: so interesting in Luke chapter seven where the centurion would
S1: like to have his servant healed. And the Jewish community
S1: of Capernaum come to the Lord Jesus. And in Luke
S1: seven four through six they came to Jesus and pleaded
S1: with him earnestly, this man is worthy to have you
S1: grant this, for he loves our nation and has built
S1: our synagogue. And then it says in the next verse,
S1: So Jesus went with them. Why did the Lord respond
S1: to the needs of this centurion? Well, obviously, because he
S1: loves him. But especially because it was in response to
S1: what the Jewish community there said. He loves our nation.
S1: He built our synagogue. The direct result of that, the
S1: Lord gets up to go bless this man by caring
S1: for his servant. It's an outworking of that Abrahamic covenant
S1: in Genesis. Genesis 12 three God blessed the centurion because
S1: he had blessed the Jewish people. So we should care
S1: about Israel. If we want to be blessed, we should
S1: care about the Jewish people. If we want to experience
S1: God's blessing, because God will bless those who bless the
S1: Jewish people. So why should we care? Because Israel is distinct.
S1: Because God loves the Jewish people forever. Because God cares
S1: about what happens to Israel. Because God will bless us
S1: for caring. And here's the fifth reason. Because caring for
S1: the Jewish people is a way to care for the Messiah,
S1: Jesus himself. What do I mean by this? Well, in
S1: Matthew 25, verse 31, there is a parable, the parable
S1: of the sheep and the goats. And a lot of
S1: people think this is just something that's describing our circumstances today.
S1: But it really there obviously applications for today. But here's
S1: what it says when the Son of Man comes in
S1: his glory. So it's at the return of the Lord
S1: Jesus and all the angels with him. He will sit
S1: on his glorious throne. And then it says, all the
S1: nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate
S1: the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the
S1: sheep from the goats. And he places the sheep on
S1: the right and the goats on the left. And the
S1: king says to those on the right, come, you who
S1: are blessed by my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for
S1: you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry.
S1: You gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, you
S1: gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and
S1: you took me in. I was naked and you clothed me.
S1: I was sick and you looked after me. I was
S1: in prison and you visited me. Then the righteous. These
S1: are people who are righteous by faith. They believed in
S1: the Lord Jesus. But the righteous will answer him. Lord,
S1: when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty,
S1: or give you something to drink? They say, we don't
S1: know anything about this. When did all these things happen? Well,
S1: the answer is the king will reply. Whatever you did
S1: for the least of these brothers of mine, you did
S1: for me. What that is saying is, during the future tribulation,
S1: when there are believers in this world and the future
S1: false Messiah is persecuting and attacking Jewish people, it is
S1: the believers who will take a stand and care for
S1: the Jewish people during that time. And at that time,
S1: the Lord Jesus, when he judges the nations, he'll say
S1: to those righteous, because you are caring for my brothers,
S1: the Jewish people. It was as if you were caring
S1: for me. That's what the Lord Jesus was saying, because
S1: caring for the Jewish people is directly attributable to caring
S1: for the Lord Jesus, who is the king of the
S1: Jewish people. If we care about the King of the Jews,
S1: we should certainly care for his people. So these are
S1: the reasons that we should care for the Jewish people today,
S1: care for Israel today because Israel is a distinct nation,
S1: because God loves the Jewish people forever, because God cares
S1: about what happens to the Jewish people. Because God will
S1: bless us for caring. Because caring for the Jewish people
S1: is a way of expressing our care for the Messiah,
S1: Jesus himself. Uh, someone once wrote, how odd of God
S1: to choose the Jews. I think that was an interesting
S1: statement that was made. Ogden Nash replied, how odd of
S1: God to choose the Jews, but not so odd as
S1: those who choose the Jewish God, but spurn the Jews
S1: by saying, I don't care what happens to Israel. This
S1: is someone spurning the Jewish people. We should never do that.
S1: We should love whom God loves, and God loves the
S1: Jewish people, and God loves the nation of Israel. Well,
S1: I did want to mention something about our current resource
S1: that is something that I think you you need to
S1: be aware of. Uh, I often tell people to build
S1: a library that there's a book, there's several books that
S1: we should all have so we understand the Bible better
S1: and study it better. Um, and one of the books
S1: I think everyone should have is a Bible dictionary. And
S1: there are many really good Bible dictionaries, but they're important.
S1: It's not looking at words so much as who are
S1: certain people in the Bible where as a place that
S1: is mentioned. What is this event that is being described?
S1: You can get out a Bible dictionary and look it
S1: up and what we are offering for a gift of
S1: any size, we'd like to send you and say thanks
S1: by sending you the Ultimate Bible Dictionary. The reason I
S1: love this Bible dictionary is it is tiny. It is
S1: about the size of my hand and it's published by
S1: B and H, the same publisher that produced my favorite
S1: Bible translation, the the Holman CSB. And this ultimate Bible
S1: dictionary is so easy to carry, so easy to use.
S1: It's just a great resource. I love it that we're
S1: able to offer it for a gift of any size.
S1: If you'd like a copy, just send your gift and
S1: we would love to say thank you, uh, for that
S1: gift of any size, uh, by sending you a copy
S1: of the Ultimate Bible Dictionary. Here's the number you should
S1: call if you would like to give a gift and
S1: receive a copy of the Ultimate Bible Dictionary, call (888) 644-7122.
S1: That's 44. 7122. And uh, uh, or you can go
S1: to open line radio.org. Of course. And you can give
S1: online and that would be great. You know what I
S1: think I'm going to do? I talked a little bit
S1: too long in my opening word. So I think what
S1: we're going to do is take a little break here
S1: and then we'll just, uh, hit the ground running when
S1: we come back after this break and take your calls
S1: and your questions. Uh, my name is Michael Melnick. The
S1: program is called Open Line. We're going to be right back.
S1: So stay right there with your questions coming up right
S1: here on Open Line. Welcome back to Open Line. So
S1: glad to be with you. We're going to go right
S1: to the phones. My name is Michael Ray Dolnick. This
S1: program is open line. And we're going to take your
S1: questions about the Bible, God and the spiritual life. Here's
S1: Tony in Ketchikan, Alaska, listening on K120, I guess is
S1: what it's called. Welcome to Open Line, Tony. How can
S1: I help you?
S2: Yes. Good morning doctor. I need the help, please. John
S2: one two, verse 15, where it says, do not love
S2: the world. Okay. I have been wondering with this question
S2: for a long time. When I drive, I do like
S2: travel and driving and I see this beautiful God's creation
S2: the rolling hills, mountains, flowers, whatever, and the Grand Canyon,
S2: which I have been there hundreds of times. And every
S2: time I go, it's like a wonder to my brain.
S2: Now my question. Would you please. Is he wrong to
S2: love and to admire this God's creation of us?
S1: You're asking about first John 215 where it says, do
S1: not love the world or the things that belong to
S1: the world. Yes, if anyone loves the world, the love
S1: of the father is not in him. Well, it's not
S1: talking about the beauty of creation there. When it's talking
S1: about the world, it's talking about the cosmos. The organized
S1: system that is, uh, led by Satan and opposed to God.
S1: That's that's what it's talking about. The world system, the culture,
S1: the the world culture. It's organized. Cosmos means organized. And
S1: it's led by Satan, the prince of, uh, the god
S1: of this world. And it's organized in direct opposition to God.
S1: So that's what it's talking about when you think about
S1: three battlegrounds, uh, of a believer in Ephesians chapter two.
S1: Here's what it says. Uh. That was my very quick
S1: definition of what the Bible means by the world. they're in.
S1: First John two. Uh, it's it's the world system organized, uh,
S1: by Satan in opposition to God. Here's what it says.
S1: But before we knew the Lord, you were dead in
S1: your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according
S1: to the ways of this world. That's what it's talking about.
S1: That satanic organized system organized in opposition to God, according
S1: to the ruler who exercise authority over the lower heavens.
S1: That's the devil. So the world, the devil. Those are
S1: the first two. The spirit now working in the disobedient.
S1: We too, all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires.
S1: Those are the three enemies of the believer the world,
S1: the flesh, the devil. And those are all designed to
S1: try and oppose God. That's what we were like, uh,
S1: before we knew the Lord. We were living under those.
S1: Now they're still our enemies. They're still what we battle.
S1: But what first John two is saying, we need to
S1: oppose in our hearts and our actions this system organized
S1: by Satan in opposition to God. That's what it's talking about.
S1: It's not talking about the Grand Canyon. It's not talking
S1: about the Rocky Mountains or the the beautiful scenery and
S1: and glory of creation in Alaska. Okay, Tony.
S2: Thank you so very much. Thank you.
S1: Yeah, yeah. Thank you for your call. Appreciate it. Uh,
S1: we're going to talk to Kathy in Brookfield, Illinois, listening on.
S1: Welcome to Open Line. Kathy, how can I help you today?
S3: Okay. I'm reading. Thank you. I'm glad to talk to you.
S3: I'm reading Matthew 16, 18 and 19 where, um, where
S3: Peter when Christ is talking to Peter and saying, on
S3: this rock I will build my church in the gates
S3: of Hades will not overcome it. But Jesus is the
S3: rock Saint Peter, right?
S1: Well, this is talking to Peter. Jesus is the rock.
S1: Do you remember the song? Uh, I always think of
S1: this when. When I first came to Faith, Larry Norman
S1: was doing all this rock and roll music. First Christian rock.
S1: And he sang Jesus is the Rock. And he rolled
S1: my blues away. Remember that? Anyway. So yes, Jesus is
S1: the rock. However, he is not a rock. He is
S1: not made of granite. He is. He's a. The Lord
S1: Jesus is the God man in his humanity. He is
S1: flesh and blood. He is not rock. What? That is
S1: when the Bible calls the Lord the rock. That is
S1: a metaphor for his firm. Uh, his firmness, his strength. Uh,
S1: it is also, Uh, in Ephesians 220. He is the cornerstone.
S1: He's not really a cornerstone. That, too, is a metaphor. Um,
S1: and then if you, uh, if you look at other places,
S1: the Lord Jesus is called. Many other metaphors. Okay. Uh,
S1: we can just go on and on. And the reason
S1: I point this out is that at times, a metaphor
S1: can be used not only of the Lord Jesus, but
S1: of someone else. And in this context, in Matthew 16,
S1: I know a lot of people who are Protestants don't
S1: like this because they think, uh, well, because other traditions
S1: have used this to make Peter the first pope. But
S1: Peter wasn't the first pope. But after Peter's great confession,
S1: he where he says, you are the Messiah, the son
S1: of the living God. He says, uh, Peter, you're blessed
S1: because my father in heaven revealed this to you. Uh.
S1: And you are Peter, which is a name that means stone.
S1: And on this rock. Now, it's not just Peter's confession,
S1: it's Peter himself. I will build my church. And the
S1: question then is, how is it that Peter was the rock? Uh,
S1: I believe that the answer to that is found in
S1: verse 19. I will give you the keys of the
S1: kingdom of heaven. Now, people have taken that to mean
S1: that Peter is the one that we meet in heaven.
S1: Remember when we see Saint Peter because he's God.
S4: He was the gatekeeper.
S1: Well, yeah, but I don't think that's what that means.
S1: If you look at the book of acts, the very
S1: first person to preach to Jewish people was Peter. He
S1: opened he unlocked the gate and proclaimed the gospel to
S1: Jewish people at Pentecost. And then in chapter eight, Even
S1: though Philip had preached to the Samaritans, it was Peter
S1: that had to go lay hands on the Samaritans so
S1: that the Holy Spirit could fall on them. And he
S1: opened the door of the spirit and the church being
S1: built in Samaria. And then in acts ten, he is
S1: the one that the Lord sends to Cornelius, the first Gentile,
S1: to become a believer and be to in, in the,
S1: in the ecclesia in the church. And Peter is the
S1: one that preaches to him, so he unlocks it for Jews,
S1: Samaritans and then Gentiles. That's the way he is, a
S1: sort of foundational and opening the door of the gospel
S1: and the building of the body of the Messiah through, uh,
S1: through Peter. That's what what happened there? Does that help?
S4: Yeah. Well.
S3: It does help. I just, um, I was Catholic when
S3: I was a kid, and I remember some priests talking
S3: explaining this a long time ago. I thought, Jesus is
S3: the Rock.
S4: But he is the rock. Don't get me wrong, he
S4: is the rock.
S3: I believe he's the rock.
S4: Yeah he is. I think he is too. But that
S4: doesn't mean the metaphor. Yeah, yeah, but that doesn't.
S1: Mean that the metaphor of rock can't be used of
S1: someone else.
S4: Just as there.
S1: Are many metaphors, that's what.
S4: It is.
S3: Can you explain really quickly about the the keys to
S3: the kingdom? It looks like he was giving Peter the
S3: keys to the kingdom, whatever.
S4: He was given the keys, because he.
S1: Is the one that unlocked the door.
S4: For Jews.
S1: To believe. Acts to Samaritans to be enveloped into the
S1: body of the Messiah. Acts eight. And then acts ten. Cornelius,
S1: the first Gentile to be in the body of the Messiah.
S4: So Jews.
S1: Samaritans, Gentiles. That's how he got the keys. Okay.
S4: That's how.
S3: Thank you very much.
S1: Yeah. Thank you for your call. Appreciate it.
S4: Uh.
S1: Well, you know what? Uh, we're we're we're going to
S1: take more calls in a moment. What we're going to
S1: do is I do want to tell you about becoming
S1: a kitchen table partner. There are such wonderful partners of
S1: this program. There are people who partner by listening. And
S1: I so appreciate that. I always thought that Eva would
S1: be the only one listening to the program. So when
S1: I meet listeners across the country, I'm always amazed and grateful.
S1: I'm amazed that there are some people who give occasionally
S1: when they they hear a resource that they would really
S1: like to have. But then there are people who, regardless
S1: of resource, regardless of anything else, they are our kitchen
S1: table partners. I'm so grateful that they partner with us
S1: by giving monthly so that we can be on the
S1: air weekly. Uh, we do a special Bible study moment
S1: for them that they receive, uh, in their inbox. And
S1: every other week it's a Bible study moment that they
S1: can listen to and, and study the word a few
S1: minutes with me, or sometimes me and Eva. Uh, I
S1: just so appreciate, uh, you becoming a Bible. Uh, a
S1: kitchen table partner. Uh, the way to become a kitchen
S1: table partner, if you're interested, is go to eight, call
S1: (888) 644-7122 or go to openline.org. We really appreciate if you
S1: do that. Uh, we'll be right back with more of
S1: your questions in just a moment. In fact, the Febc
S1: mailbag is coming right up. Stay with us. Welcome back
S1: to Open Line. So glad that you're listening today. I'm
S1: so grateful that the Far Eastern Broadcasting Company partners with
S1: Open Line to bring you the weekly Febc mailbag. It's
S1: a terrific organization. They bring the good news to people
S1: all over the world via media, and also they have
S1: individual personal engagement, people who are out there talking about
S1: the Lord and they do a marvelous work. Check out
S1: the Febc podcast. It's called Until All I've Heard. You
S1: can find that on your whatever podcast distributor you have,
S1: or you can go to Febc. Org, that's Febc. Org.
S1: And joining me right now with the Febc mailbag is
S1: to hear, Haynes, I am so glad you're sitting in
S1: today for Tricia, or I guess you partner with Tricia
S1: in sharing the duties on Saturday mornings. I'm so glad
S1: that you're able to come and join me to hear.
S5: Thank you. I'm happy to be here. Thank you. Yeah,
S5: we do share the duties.
S1: Yeah, I think that's great. I think it's wonderful. Uh,
S1: people said to me, why would why is Tricia not
S1: coming every Saturday? Because we need to get you on
S1: the air, too. That's that's. We need.
S5: And I think it's also just just we're here during
S5: the week. And so just to give us a balance
S5: we share the Saturdays.
S1: Yeah. And you know, she's I have to say, uh,
S1: Trish is a mom. She's got little kids that are
S1: home on Saturdays, and I'm happy that she gets to
S1: be with them every Saturday, that she is not with me,
S1: but she's still prepared the mailbag. Did she not?
S5: She did. She sent these questions to us via email.
S5: So thank you.
S4: Yep, yep.
S1: So. Well no, no, it's not via email. It's a
S1: huge bag like in miracle on 34th Street where they
S1: carry the bags in at the end. That's what it
S1: looks like, right?
S5: Right.
S1: Yeah. The the theater of the mind. Okay. Uh, let's
S1: let's look at some of these questions.
S5: Sure. We will start with Kathleen from Ohio listening through.
S5: She says my friend lost her mother recently. She says,
S5: where can I tell her that her mother is now?
S5: She has hopes that because they are the chosen people. Um.
S5: They're Jewish. That those. She died without proclaiming Jesus as
S5: her Lord and savior. That she is with Jesus. How
S5: can you comfort someone whose loved one has passed away
S5: when you're uncertain of their eternity, but doubt they're with Jesus?
S1: You know, I think one of the things that people
S1: want to have is to have a special deal for
S1: Jewish people. And of course, if you care about Jewish people,
S1: if you care about, uh, others in other religious groups, uh,
S1: you think, okay, well, maybe the Lord will reveal himself
S1: after death or something like that, but I want to
S1: just say this. The Bible says for, uh, that, that
S1: God so loved the world that he gave his one
S1: and only son. And whoever believes in him will not
S1: perish but have everlasting life. That's a really simple verse.
S1: But do you notice the point? God has made provision
S1: for everyone, but it has to be activated by faith.
S1: This is what the Lord Jesus said specifically to Jewish people,
S1: but it applies to everyone. Therefore, this is John 824
S1: therefore I told you that you will die in your sins.
S1: If you do not believe that I am he, you
S1: will die in your sins. In other words, and by
S1: the way that I am, he is a declaration of deity.
S5: Okay.
S1: It literally says, unless you believe that I am, uh,
S1: then you'll die in your sins. So, uh, I don't
S1: think anyone, Jew or Gentile, uh, gets a special backdoor
S1: way into the hand, into the the the eternity. There
S1: is a need. We. That's why we proclaim the gospel.
S1: That's why I tell Jewish people and Gentiles, even people
S1: who are from a a Bible believing tradition. That's why
S1: we were proclaiming the gospel regularly. The good news is
S1: this that Jesus died for our sins and rose again.
S1: He took our punishment with his death. He was declared
S1: to be God with power through the resurrection. And his
S1: ability to save us is clear. So what do I
S1: say to someone? And this doesn't just mean Jewish people
S1: who may have lost a loved one. I don't know
S1: the destiny of most people who die, and I don't
S1: offer hope that way. All I ever do is ask. Uh.
S1: All I do is I ask for God to comfort, uh,
S1: the people. And I always like, with a Jewish person.
S1: I say, may you be comforted among the mourners of Zion.
S1: That's what we traditionally say. Uh, I ask for God
S1: to bring the those who who are here to bring
S1: them comfort. Unless I am absolutely certain that this Jewish
S1: person or Gentile person. Had made a firm decision to
S1: follow Jesus. You know, I don't you know, I trust
S1: that God knows what he's doing. The judge of all
S1: the earth will do right. And I do believe that
S1: God can bring comfort, even to people who have lost
S1: a loved one. And we don't know their destiny. Uh,
S1: the other thing I always say is that there are
S1: many Jewish people who were secret believers because of the
S1: difficulty of taking a stand for Jesus publicly. It's not
S1: like they rejected him or. HID their faith. They just
S1: didn't speak up. And so sometimes I've talked to Jewish
S1: people and they say, yeah, I've believed that. Um, and
S1: it is kind of sad to me that they are
S1: not bolder, but it causes me to be very hesitant
S1: to decide on this side of the equation, who is lost?
S1: Who is in heaven. I just trust God to bring comfort.
S1: And that's what I would say. Kathleen. Just to say,
S1: may God bring you comfort now. May you find comfort
S1: among the mourners of Zion. Uh, that the the Lord
S1: can give you comfort.
S5: Michael, thank you for that caring, truthful, truthful response we have.
S1: It's, by the way, uh, I hate doing funerals. And
S1: let me just say, when I officiate at a funeral,
S1: most of the time I've not known the destiny of
S1: the person. Uh, I had a dear friend that passed
S1: away a few weeks ago, and it was one of
S1: the most joyous occasions. Even though I was heartbroken about
S1: losing a friend because he had taken a really clear, uh, position,
S1: he had trusted in the Lord. He had walked with
S1: the Lord and and, you know, I know where he is.
S1: But most of the time, it's not like that.
S5: So thank you so much, Michael. We have another question
S5: from David in Florida who listens through the Moody Radio app.
S5: His question is, are faith and belief synonyms?
S1: Yeah, he I see his question. He's written out a
S1: lot more. You know, we're saved by grace through faith,
S1: but we're actually saved by belief. Well, the word group
S1: in Greek is from the verb pisteuo or pistis, which
S1: is the noun, and it means belief or faith, believe
S1: or trust. It's all the same word. It's it's in English.
S1: We have different synonyms for it, but it's all the
S1: same word. It's all the same word group. The word
S1: group in Greek. And the same thing in Hebrew. Uh,
S1: Ammon is the Hebrew word, and it's all the same
S1: word group. Whether you see, trust, believe, Have faith. It's
S1: all the same. So yeah, they are actually faith and
S1: believe are absolute belief are absolute synonyms. Yes.
S5: Thank you David.
S1: They're synonyms English. In Greek they're not even synonyms. They're
S1: the same word. So okay.
S5: Thank you for that. Thank you so much. Um, another
S5: question is from Ron, also in Florida, who listens through
S5: Moody Radio Florida. Is there a difference in the temptations
S5: of the flesh and temptations from Satan in our battle
S5: against the flesh? Is our battle against the flesh instigated
S5: by Satan, or are there two different areas we face?
S1: Well, one of the things that we're going to see
S1: is that, uh, in the Millennial Kingdom, there will still
S1: be people born. There will still be people who are.
S1: Who need to trust in Jesus. Uh, and they will.
S1: Some of them won't. And they will be battling the
S1: flesh even though Satan is bound. So, uh. And so
S1: there are the the flesh itself operates within us. Uh,
S1: but I don't today. I don't doubt that there is
S1: a connection between. I read it earlier in the program,
S1: Ephesians two one through three, where we have our three.
S1: Enemies the world, the flesh and the devil. And I
S1: think in James one. There's a passage that that kind
S1: of reflects what's going on. It says, uh, no one
S1: undergoing a trial should say, I'm being tempted by God.
S1: For God is not tempted by evil. He doesn't tempt anyone.
S1: He himself. But each person is tempted when he is
S1: drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires. Now
S1: the evil desires is a reflection of the flesh. The
S1: temptation or enticement that is drawing him away is the devil.
S1: I think that the the devil is out there fishing
S1: and he's dropping bait, and our flesh is the one
S1: that responds to it. And he knows which areas of
S1: the flesh are different areas of weakness for each of us. Um,
S1: you know, I, I remember having a dear friend once.
S1: She would have never been tempted to be immoral. Not
S1: at all. Ever. Uh, this is, uh, I've been friends
S1: with this person for maybe 50 years now, but when
S1: we were in college, she would have never been tempted
S1: to be immoral as she isn't now. However, she was
S1: tempted to marry someone that didn't know the Lord because
S1: he was a good and kind person. And. And that
S1: was a temptation from the enemy. Uh, so, you know,
S1: I think that that he knows each of our desires secretly,
S1: that maybe even better than we do because he observes
S1: us and he drops the enemy or his, you know,
S1: the demons will drop bait in front of us. Try
S1: and arrange things to be so that we're tempted based
S1: on our own individual fleshly desires. And so, uh, they're
S1: not the same, but they certainly do operate together. I
S1: would say.
S5: Thank you for that.
S1: Yeah. By the way, that's why we need to shore up.
S1: Know the word of God, resist it. Uh, resist the
S1: enemy and he will flee. And, uh, quoting the Word
S1: of God, I believe, is the best way to resist
S1: those temptations of the flesh.
S5: So. Amen.
S1: Anyway, thank you. Tara. We're going to come back with
S1: more of your questions in just a moment. This is
S1: Tara Haynes. Michael. Ray. Dominic. This is open line on
S1: Moody Radio. Stay with.
S4: Us.
S1: Welcome back to Open Line. My name is Michael Ray.
S1: I'm so glad you're listening today. I love talking with
S1: you about your questions about the Bible, God and the
S1: spiritual life. Uh uh, the, uh, The Chosen People Ministries
S1: has done something. It actually really relates well to, uh.
S1: What I opened the show with talking about why we
S1: should care about Israel. People frequently ask questions about the
S1: Jewish people. They frequently, frequently ask questions about Israel. Are
S1: they the chosen people? Where do they fit in the
S1: plan of God? And so Chosen People ministries, who partners
S1: to bring you open line every week? they are offering
S1: a free booklet called Why Israel? It explores the topic
S1: of Israel through the lens of Scripture, and it deals
S1: with questions like has the church replaced Israel today? What
S1: what should we think about Israel today? Uh, these questions
S1: and more will be answered with an outline of biblical
S1: theology of Israel. And if you'd like a free copy
S1: of Why Israel? Just go to the Open Line website.
S1: That's open Line radio.org. Scroll down. You'll see a link
S1: that says a free gift from Chosen People Ministries. Click
S1: on that and you'll be taken to a page where
S1: you can sign up for your very own free copy
S1: of Why Israel? Well, we're going to go to the
S1: phones right now. We're going to talk to Jeff in Akron, Ohio,
S1: listening on CRF. Welcome to Open Line. Jeff. I hear
S1: you're driving, right.
S6: Well, I just pulled over, so I think we're good.
S4: Oh, good.
S1: That's what I was going to ask you to do.
S1: Please pull over so that we can talk and not
S1: be distracted. That's good. Keep safe. How can I help
S1: you today, Jeff?
S6: So my question, um, comes out of, uh, first Corinthians 714,
S6: where Paul writes that a believing spouse will sanctify his
S6: unbelieving spouse. And, um, and then he goes on to say,
S6: otherwise the children would be unclean. So my concern or
S6: question is, um, facing an impending divorce, where would that
S6: leave my spouse? And, you know, most most importantly, like
S6: my my kids, as far as being unclean.
S1: Is your spouse a believer? Is your wife a believer?
S6: I it's hard to say. Um, you know, I hate
S6: to comment on what someone believes.
S4: No, no.
S1: But she let me just say, has she professed to
S1: be a believer?
S6: Like, I, she keeps it to herself. She doesn't go
S6: to church. She has some church hurt from the past,
S6: so I don't know where that lies with her.
S1: Okay, well, the context here is about, uh, staying married. Mhm.
S1: That's that's the point. Uh, if any brother, verse 12
S1: has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live
S1: with him, he must not leave her. Verse 13, if
S1: also if any woman has an unbelieving husband, and he
S1: is willing to live with her, she must not leave
S1: her husband. The idea is that, uh, generally speaking, it
S1: is more likely for. Well, first, those two verses are
S1: saying that if your, uh, if a person's spouse is
S1: not a believer but still willing to stay with the believer,
S1: stay together. Uh, that's because, uh, in ancient times, when
S1: this was being written to the Corinthians, when people became believers,
S1: they wanted to leave their spouse. who didn't know the Lord.
S1: And Paul is saying, no, no, stay in that circumstance.
S1: Stay with her. Why? For that's the explanatory word. The
S1: unbelieving husband is set apart for God by the wife,
S1: and the unbelieving wife is set apart for God by
S1: the husband. The word sanctify means set apart. And I
S1: like how the CSB translates it set apart. In other words,
S1: what it's saying is this person, this unbelieving spouse, if
S1: you stay married, is more likely to become a believer
S1: in the context of a of a loving relationship. Then
S1: if you just break up because one is a believer
S1: and one isn't. So that's what it's saying. That's why
S1: we stay together, because that that will enable the spouse
S1: who doesn't believe. More likely not certain, but more likely
S1: to become a follower of Jesus as well. Otherwise, your
S1: children would be Corrupt, but now they are set apart
S1: for God. The same thing if if, for example, uh, you, uh,
S1: if a person has a spouse that's not a believer
S1: and takes the children with them, they are now less
S1: likely to become believers outside the confines of this loving
S1: family and the outside of the influence of the believer.
S1: That's what Paul is saying. He's not saying that children
S1: are automatically not going to be believers, but it's it's
S1: more about likelihood, um, staying together in a context of
S1: with the believing spouse is better for the unbelieving spouse.
S1: It's better for the unbelieving children. They are much more
S1: likely to become believers. Uh, how old are your children today, Jeff?
S6: Um, well, I have a stepson is 17, and then the, um,
S6: my daughter is seven.
S1: Well, let's talk about your daughter. Uh. if she. The
S1: thing that this is saying is not that she automatically
S1: becomes I mean, we're all unclean in the sense that we, uh,
S1: if we don't believe we're in our sins, but the
S1: likelihood for her to be set apart, to become a
S1: believer is better for her to be as you have
S1: influence in her life. So even if you're going to divorce,
S1: you cannot abandon your child. You have to, uh, try
S1: and have good influence into her life, both emotionally, physically,
S1: but spiritually as well. Uh, that's that's that's there. Yeah,
S1: but that's what it's talking about there.
S6: So.
S1: Okay. Okay. And you're still close with your daughter?
S6: Yes. It's still we go to church every week, and, um,
S6: she's a believer and she's been baptized. She's okay. All that.
S6: It's the spouse. It's my spouse who's requesting the separation. So,
S6: you know, I kind of I don't want to hold
S6: her hostage by it, but I also just concerned with
S6: my daughter and and him wording that unclean. I just,
S6: you know, she automatically become unclean.
S1: No, no. Do you understand what that's saying? It's about taking.
S6: Her.
S1: Taking her out of the influence of of the the believer.
S1: That's what it's talking about. So just keep influencing her,
S1: even with the separation or a divorce. Okay.
S6: Right. Thank you.
S1: Okay. Yeah. Uh, Jeff, I'm sorry that you're going through this. It's.
S1: I think it's the most painful thing. Um, sometimes I
S1: think a divorce is even harder than losing a spouse. Uh,
S1: and so the thing is, don't lose the influence you
S1: can have, uh, on on even your 17 year old stepson, uh,
S1: your daughter and maybe even, uh, continue to love and
S1: care for your wife, even if she proceeds with the divorce,
S1: because who knows what kind of impact you can have
S1: in her life in the long run. So anyway, thanks
S1: for your call, Jeff. I can't believe it. The first
S1: hour of the program is done, but there's a whole
S1: other hour of open line coming up a second hour
S1: on most of these stations. You know, if your station
S1: doesn't carry it, that's okay. You can listen online, you
S1: can listen on the podcast, you can get the Moody
S1: Radio app. There's all sorts of ways you can get
S1: the second program during the break. Check out our website, radio.org.
S1: That page has links to past programs, questions, things like that.
S1: How to get our current resource. Even if you're interested
S1: in going to Israel with me or traveling with me,
S1: there's a link to my personal web page. Org you
S1: should check that out. The Bible study across America will
S1: continue in the second hour, so stay with us. Open
S1: line with Doctor Michael Melnick is a production of Moody Radio,
S1: a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.