Do Angels Visit People Today?

The following is a pre-recorded version of CORE Christianity.

We'll be back live again on Monday. Do angels visit people today? That's just one of the questions we'll be answering on today's edition of CORE Christianity. Hi, this is Bill Meyer along with Pastor Adriel Sanchez, and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. Here's the number to call if you have a question. It's 833-THE-CORE. That's 1-833-843-2673. As always, if you get our voicemail, you can leave a voicemail at that number. In fact, you can call 24 hours a day. You can also post your question on our Facebook or Instagram or Twitter accounts, and you can email us your question at questionsatcorechristianity.com.

First up today, let's go to a voicemail we received from one of our listeners earlier this week. I had a question about salvation. When I consider the sovereignty of God in salvation, it feels presumptuous to claim to be a Christian. And when I read about the evidences of a person saved by grace, I feel like I never measure up. How can a person cultivate faith in the work of Christ and trust in Him alone and not look so much to ourselves?

Thank you much. Yeah, man, such an important question, and I'm glad that you asked it, because oftentimes, if we're thinking first, going back to the beginning of your question, about God's sovereignty and doctrines like the doctrine of election, the doctrines like the doctrine of predestination, where Paul talks about, in Ephesians chapter 1, even as He chose us, verse 4, in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love, He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved.

So you get these doctrines that are biblical. Those words, election, predestination, those are Bible words, and so we have to wrestle with them. And my position, it sounds like this is your position as well, we get a lot of diversity of opinion with the callers here, but my position is that God does choose people for salvation, sovereignly, not on the basis of anything that they've done, that this election, this choice is unconditional. But then the question becomes, well, how do I know if I'm elect? Because I look at my life, and I still have ungodly desires, I still struggle with sin, I do things that I know I shouldn't do at times, and then I feel horrible about them, and then I wonder, well, did God really choose me? Did He really choose me?

Man, it's a real question. Now here's the thing, we have to focus not so much on the idea of predestination, trying to determine whether or not God from eternity past chose us, peering into the secret counsels of God, if you will, we have to focus on what He's revealed. Really, His promises, His covenants with His people, that's where we get assurance from. And so we look away from ourselves and we look to God's objective word, His promise, and it's through that that we experience His grace and confirm, if you will, the reality of our having been chosen by Him. I think of what the author of the Hebrews said in Hebrews chapter 12 beginning in verse 1. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. And earlier in the book of Hebrews in Hebrews chapter 6, you know who the author of the Hebrews says the anchor of our soul is?

He says it's Jesus who's ascended into heaven at the right hand of the Father. Jesus is our hope, our focus, the anchor of our soul. We are only chosen in Christ. And so focus on Jesus. When you're wrestling with this question, did God choose me, look to Jesus, look to Christ, and there what you see when you look to Christ is God's goodwill and favor toward you. The fact that God sent His Son into the world to die for sinners. And that's real. That's an objective promise that you're called to lay hold of.

We really have to have to focus there. And I think when we do, when we start sinking our teeth more and more into the promises of God, of the Gospel, of His goodwill towards us, and start looking away from ourselves and our struggles, several things happen. One, I think there is a comfort that we receive because when we look to the cross we see God's love for sinners. So we look at ourselves and we see sin and we question, does God really love me?

Have God chosen me? But when we look to the cross we see, yes, God does love sinners and God sent His Son into the world to bleed for them. And this is good news for you. And actually I think this is one of the reasons why Jesus gave us the ordinances like He did, baptism and the Lord's Supper. In particular, think about the Lord's Supper. I try to encourage my people in the church with this reality, with this comfort. You hear the preaching of the Word of God. You hear the preaching of the Gospel. And I think it's easy for people in the pew as they're hearing about God's grace and God's love to think, yeah, okay, I believe that for some people. I'm sure that Jesus loves some other people here in this room. But when I look at myself, it's really hard for me to believe that that grace, that that Gospel is for me personally, because I can see all of my sins. I know all of my struggles.

In fact, I know that I don't even know all of them, that I'm probably more sinful even than I can begin to imagine because there are things that I do that I'm not even aware of. And so we feel weighed down, is this Gospel, is this grace really for me? And that's one of the reasons why Jesus gave us the table.

We hear the preached Word and then those promises of the Gospel are sealed to us in a very personal way. This is my body given for you. This is my blood shed for you as surely as you receive this bread and this wine. That's how real my grace is for you.

Embrace it. Sink your teeth into my love, into my grace. And so I would say that's another one of the ways that I think ordinarily God intends for you to be comforted by the reality of his love for you, the fact that he's chosen you, that he's called you into his kingdom. But look to Christ, look away from yourself, look to Christ and to his promises and rest on those promises first and foremost. Thank you for your call. What a great picture you've painted for us of God's grace, Adriel. Thank you for that so much. It's just such a beautiful comfort to every one of us when we struggle with our sins and guilt over things we've done in the past to know that God is completely forgiven us and cast our sins as far as the east is from the west.

That's beautiful. And we all do, Bill. This brother, you know, is not alone. We all do.

We all have those questions and that's why continually we need to be redirected. And isn't it a beautiful thing to be able to say, man, when I look up to Jesus, to the cross, to what God has done for sinners, that's where my comfort is. Jesus is the anchor of my soul. I'm not a very good anchor. I float around.

I can drift. Christ is the one who anchors me and he's the one who anchors you. Amen. You're listening to Core Christianity with Pastor Adriel Sanchez. If you have a question for us about the Bible or the Christian life, you can leave us a voicemail 24 hours a day at this number, 833-THE-CORE.

That's 1-833-843-2673. And of course, you can always send us an email at questions at corechristianity.com. Let's go to Mark in Alton, Illinois. Mark, what's your question for Pastor Adriel? Yes, sir.

Good afternoon and thank you. Well, I'll try to make this real short. It's kind of a long story, but I'll make it short. I've had a holy visit, a real one. I'm working at a renovating hotel and I felt somebody walk up on me in the doorway and I looked up and I visually saw someone there standing in what I thought was a white dress. I get up, go to the front seat of the manager who was coming back to get with me and she said, no, it wasn't her. I said, well, I guess I was visited by an angel. So we both laughed and I went back to the work area. When I went back to the work area, I heard my name called. In my ear, not in the room, not in my head, but in my ear itself. So I yelled, Mark, a male voice, Mark, very, very strong voice, Mark.

So I kind of thought I was losing my mind a little bit. When outside, took a breather, come back in, finished my workday, went home. And that night when I'm laying in my bed, I feel a warm energy. What I know now is the Holy Spirit basically lay through my body from my belly to my back and from my head to my toes. I felt warmth, peace, indescribable love. So are you just wondering, Mark, what that was, or was that really an angel? Is that your question?

Well, I fought for years. It could be an angel or it could be the Lord Himself. And so you are a believer, you're a Christian, Mark?

How are you? Yes. Well, let me just say, one, the Bible obviously talks about angels. God created the angelic hosts. And in the New Testament, there are these sort of mysterious messengers, oftentimes bringing the word of the Lord to people, working in ways, overseeing things, really working for the benefit of the people of God. Actually, in the book of Hebrews, in Hebrews chapter one, as the author of the Hebrews is making the point that Jesus is greater than the angels, the supremacy of Christ over the angelic hosts.

He's the one actually who created all of them. And the author of the Hebrew says in Hebrews 1.14, are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? And then Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew, in Matthew chapter 18, verse 10, seemed to suggest that they have this sort of function as guardians in some way, again, overseeing, caring for people. I think each of us, when we get to heaven, we're standing before the Lord, we're going to be able to see how God used angels in our lives in various ways. Now, of course, we're never called to seek angels. And in some movements, I think of the New Age movement in particular, I think there's this fascination, unhealthy fascination with angels. We know that there are also fallen angels, evil spirits that sometimes disguise themselves as angels of light. The author, Paul, writing to the Corinthians, in 2 Corinthians said this, but it sounds to me like this is a personal experience that you've had.

And I can't tell you whether or not it was a real, I just don't know. I do know that angels do work and they work for the good of God's people. And again, the author of the Hebrews, in Hebrews chapter 13, verse 2 says, do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. And so angels are very much at work in the world today. But if this experience caused you to grow in your love for the Lord, in searching the scriptures and getting plugged in with the people of God, then I would say it sounds like it was a good thing.

Those are all things that Satan does not want us to have. And so, I thank you for sharing that story. And of course, we don't focus on experience. Sometimes people have those kinds of experiences, sometimes they don't. Our focus has to be the Word. And whatever those miraculous experiences that we have, what they are always meant to do is lead us into a deeper knowledge of who God is through His Word, lead us ultimately closer to Jesus. And so Mark, if that's happened for you through this, then I'm grateful and you can be too. Mark, thanks so much for your call and for being a listener to Core Christianity. We really do appreciate you. This is Core Christianity with Pastor Adriel Sanchez.

We have a group of people that we want to say thank you to today, and maybe you'd like to join that group. We call them our inner core. Yes, the inner core.

Really a partnership with you. If you've been blessed by Core Christianity, if you're encouraged by the broadcast, the Q&A that we have here every day, and I really hope that you are, would you consider joining us and becoming a part of the inner core to the inner core. First, let me just say inner core members receive a number of exclusive things that we only give to the inner core. We do a monthly devotional that we send out for inner core members and a number of other things. We send you a copy of the book by Dr. Michael Horton, Core Christianity, which is basically a summary of the core doctrines of the Christian faith that every Christian needs to know.

I'm convinced that these are doctrines that you should be rooted in as a believer in Jesus Christ, the Trinity, the Atonement, the Doctrine of Scripture, the Word of God, Christology, the Doctrine of Christ. It covers a lot of that. So inner core members get a copy of that book. Would you consider joining us, partnering with us?

Pray about it, would you? And join our team. It's a monthly donation of $25 or more. It really is not that much, but it goes a long way for us, and it helps us continue to do what we love to do, which is share the love of Jesus with people throughout the world. You know, if you're a regular listener to this program and, as Adriel said, you believe in what we do, you think it has value and meaning and can reach people and help them learn more about God's Word and His truth, then maybe consider becoming a member of the inner core.

Here's how you do it. You go to our website at corechristianity.com forward slash inner core to learn more. Just corechristianity.com forward slash inner core, one word, or you can call us for that particular offer and find out more about becoming a member of the inner core at 833-THE-CORE.

You can always leave us a voicemail there as well with your question, 1-833-843-2673. Got an email here, Adriel, this is from one of our listeners named Jordan. He says, in Matthew 10, 32-33, Jesus speaks of the importance of acknowledging Him in front of others, but later, Peter denied Him three times in front of others. Doesn't that mean that Peter would have been denied in front of the Father by Jesus?

No, it doesn't have to mean that, and I'm really glad that it doesn't. So let's just read what Jesus said there in Matthew chapter 10. Actually, in the context, He's really comforting His disciples. I'll go back just a few verses, beginning in verse 26. Have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.

Rather, fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father, but even the hairs of your head are all numbered.

Fear not, therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows. And so everyone who acknowledges Me before men, I also will acknowledge before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I also will deny before My Father who is in heaven. And I don't think that Jesus is referring to a one-time denial. The fact of the matter is, brothers and sisters, when we sin, isn't that a kind of denial of Jesus? We're choosing our way over Him, over the leading of the Holy Spirit, and that's precisely what Peter did when he denied the Lord.

And it was tragic. Of course, our Lord Jesus told him that He was going to do it, and it was not justifiable. I mean, it was a grievous sin, a heinous sin, and yet what did Jesus do after Peter denied Him? He made him breakfast on the beach at the end of John's Gospel. Jesus came to Peter and restored him, and He says to him, you know, Simon, son of Peter, do you love Me?

Do you love Me? He asked him that three times because Peter denied him three times. And it's just this beautiful picture of the grace of Christ, even towards those who fail, who fall. And that was, of course, every one of the disciples, every one of the apostles, and it's every one of us. Now, can a person reject Christ and deny Him and live their life like that, and then expect to be, you know, brought before the Father who is in heaven and acknowledged by Jesus?

No, no. You will be, that person will be cast out. But maybe you, as you listen right now, you've denied the Lord at one point or another, and like Peter, it breaks your heart. And you think, man, is God just done with me? Because look at what it says in Matthew chapter 10, you know, I denied Him, He's going to deny me.

Well, know this, in the same way that Jesus, the Good Shepherd, pursued Peter, He pursues you, maybe even right now, and He calls you to turn to Him. He restores you by grace, by forgiving your sins. And so, yeah, Peter denied the Lord, but the sort of, you know, denying the Lord once and repenting that you're not going to be condemned.

No, God is gracious, Christ is gracious. And so, Peter didn't have to worry, and we don't either, you know, when we failed like that, we can go to the Lord and confess our sins and He forgives us. And so that's a great comfort. That's a great comfort. Amen. You're listening to Core Christianity with Pastor Adriel Sanchez.

We receive a lot of voicemails here, and you can call us 24 hours a day and leave your voicemail at 833-THE-CORE. Here's one that came in from a listener named James. How are you doing there? I'm wondering why there's no marriage in heaven. Is there mates like Adam at even a perfect heaven before they sinned?

Is it the same for us? How come he gets a mate and we don't? I might tell God to say goodbye if I don't have a mate, won't be able to handle it.

Thank you. Oh, hey, thank you for that question. Yeah, I mean, the Bible does seem to indicate, Jesus seemed to indicate in the Gospel of Matthew, for example, he's having a discussion with these religious leaders known as the Sadducees. And he says in heaven, people aren't given in marriage. There's no marriage.

We're like the angels, if you will, in that regard. And that really troubles a lot of people. They think, well, what does that mean? I love my wife, or I love my spouse, or I long for a spouse. You're telling me that not even in heaven I'm going to find somebody? Well, marriage, we have to understand what it is. It's a picture of the relationship that Christ has with the church of the ultimate bride and bridegroom that's given to us in scripture. The end of the book of Revelation, you have the marriage supper of the lamb. That's the marriage in heaven.

That's the focus. And the reality is our relationships in heaven are going to be perfect. Again, it's hard for us to conceive of this now. And we think of how our relationships are and how special marriage is and the special relationship that one might have with their spouse and wondering, well, what's that going to look like in heaven?

I'm not entirely sure, but I can say this with confidence. It's going to be even better than it is now. All of our relationships are going to be because we're going to exist in perfect love in the presence of the Lord. And so we don't have to feel like we're going to be missing out or it's going to be not so great. It sounds like it's not going to be that great of a place.

No, it's going to be above and beyond anything you could ever ask or think or imagine. It's going to be perfect love, peace, sinlessness, and ultimately being in the presence of the God who made us. That's why the psalmist Asaph could say in Psalm 73, whom have I in heaven but you and on earth there is none that I desire besides you. It's not that he was saying, look, nobody really matters.

I don't care about my neighbors, that kind of a thing. It's that he was saying God in your presence is fullness of joy. There's nothing better than knowing you, than experiencing your grace.

It causes everything else to pale in comparison. And yet we're going to have that and we're going to have those perfect relationships that we longed for here on earth but couldn't find or experience because of sin. We're going to have those perfect relationships in the presence of the Lord in sinless eternity.

And so we have a lot to look forward to. Amen. This is Core Christianity with Pastor Adriel Sanchez. We received an email question about something in the Old Testament. This one comes in from one of our listeners and he or she says, what does the cursed water in numbers 523 to 28 mean? Is that something that we have to do today?

Man, that's a big one to tackle with less than a minute left, so maybe we can pick up on this another time as well. But it's associated with adultery, not just here but even in the book of Exodus when the children of Israel committed spiritual adultery. They had to destroy the idol and they basically mixed up the pieces of the idol, the dust of the idol and they drank it. It was this sign of spiritual adultery and back in numbers it was a way of dealing with a potential case of adultery for Israel at that time.

It's not something that we do today and so no, it's not something that we have to do today. There is a meal that we participate in that does and can lead to death and Paul talks about that in the book of 1 Corinthians. It's the Lord's Supper. That's the holy meal for the people of God today, the body and blood of Jesus given for us and for our salvation. Thanks for listening to CORE Christianity. To request your copy of today's special offer, visit us at corechristianity.com and click on offers in the menu bar or call us at 1-833-843-2673. That's 833 the CORE. When you contact us, please let us know how you've been encouraged by this program and be sure to join us next time as we explore the truth of God's word together.