If God Exists, Why Doesn't He Make Everything Right?

If God exists, why doesn't he make everything right.

That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity is Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answered your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. You can call us right now with your question. At 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 and you can email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com. Today we have a story about a novel way to help seniors feel less isolated during the coronavirus pandemic.

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If you are tired of hearing it, barking or whatever happens when the lithium battery runs out. Dude your portal puppy buried in the backyard all made her child cry hell, our first question of the day. DD posted this on our Facebook page and she says hi Pastor Sanchez I was wondering what book I can recommend to a friend of mine who's a Christian, but she's all over the place in her beliefs. I'd like to share the gospel with her and where she can understand the truth of God's word and his gospel DD I would say well to think so.

There's a bunch of books I want to I want to recommend two things. First, and I would say is one start with the Scriptures. The Bible is powerful is the word of God. EA's really where you want to point her to initially so I would recommend DD that you say why we go through the gospel of John together, read a chapter every day. Maybe talk about it at the end of the week or at the end of each night. That kind of thing.

But really introducing your friend to who Jesus is, so that she could gain a better understanding in her Christian faith. So start with the Scriptures into with that and this is where I think a lot of a lot of assertive go off the rails as we have that we don't have this other piece we don't have the local church so II want to know. DD is your friend a part of a good church where the Scriptures are being taught, where there being explained where instead of having beliefs that are all over the place she's being established in sound doctrine.

We all need that as Christians so that's really the focus you do encourage her to be in the word and to be in a good church and if she isn't in the word and if she's not in a good church. That's the priority that's the first thing that you want to encourage and help her and and I hope that your in a good church as well. DD out in terms of other books that can be helpful at explaining what the Scriptures teach especially kind of on on on a surface introductory level I would definitely remain recommend Mike Wharton's book for Christianity is part of what got this program started asking to introduce her to the core Christian doctrines that I think every Christian needs to know there's that classic book by Jack Packer called knowing God.

A lot of people been talking about that book recently because he just went to be with the Lord in glory just recently died.

But that's a classroom is a wonderful book knowing God by Jack Packer CS Lewis's book mere Christianity that might be a little bit more philosophical but I think that there's some really wonderful nuggets therapist about the basics of the Christian faith.

Why we believe what we believe, how to defend the faith we've offered that in particular, mere Christianity on this program many many times to our listeners.

That's another one this story of reality by gray cocoa is a great book that's gonna be more worldview and defending the faith and and how you can know that the Christian faith is true in comparison to all these other religious beliefs and and worldviews.

Those kinds of things are the story of reality. Maybe one more recommendation. You have Tim Keller's book, the prodigal God, which I think is a really helpful just gospel centered exposition of the parable of the prodigal son.

Those are some other extra biblical resources if you will, that you might want to consider introducing your friend to, but I would say the main thing is be in the word encourage her to be in the word of the Spirit of God works with the word of God to transform our hearts and minds and make sure she's going to a good church with the word is being faithfully taught a lot of people wonder what is it mean for a church to be a good church.

Well, does it have the marks of a true church is the word faithfully taught is worship awarded according to what we see in God's word. You know you have those ordinances that Jesus gave to the church. Baptism, the Lord's supper. This is what Jesus gave us for worship and you also have we call discipline.

Church discipline Fellowship community. In other words, it's not just this group of people that gather together and there's no real genuine oversight from the pastors and elders and they're not caring for the flock. People are being discipled cared for the truth of God's word is being spoken into and applied to their lives.

That's so important and so find a good church were those things are happening. Encourage your friends to be a part of it.

No way drill one of the things it's so encouraging to me is we have so many listeners who write or call and they say I have this friend I really care about them, but they're confused or their theology is messed up and I really want to help them and that is such an important part of the Christian life is reaching out to those that are confused and helping them understand the truth yeah totally's and one thing that I think the same thing Bill, but I've noticed a lot of individuals will feel like I have to do something to help.

I buy one save my friend basically right and I think that we each individually complete our role in the life of a brother or sister who need some of that guidance. Some of that help, but ultimately they need more than just me, even for me as a pastor, like I know that the people in the congregation that I pastor need more than me. They need the whole community of faith.

The body of Christ, as were all gifted in different ways and were all using our gifts for the edification of the body and so for us to grow spiritually in a healthy way.

We need a whole church and this is what I was trying to tell DD was part of the part of the big thing we have to do we want to help someone is get them plugged into the church because we know that ultimately they need more than just themselves in the Bible in the closet for the rest of their life or fellowship with me as an individual. I am only gifted to a certain extent there's only so much that one person can provide what we need is the whole body of Christ so critical that each of us is plugged into a solid church. This is core Christianity with pastor Averill Sanchez interview question force.

You can call us at 833-843-2673 death 833 the core. You can also email us at questions at core, Christianity.com why send us an email and he says in a recent program you explain why Jesus called the rulers God related to that same passage. My question is why did Jesus tell them that they would die like men because they unfairly judge the people.

I assume these were just men like us so when they have died. Even if they had judged fairly specific question in the text referring to here is Psalm chapter 82 and relevant to say this. Thanks for reaching out to us after hearing from West.

One thing we we wanted make sure that you will know is as were answering these questions were digging in the Scriptures reach out to us if you have a follow-up or if you have a question about something that I've said or you even disagree that's okay. We want to dig into the Scriptures together so that we might be edified, and so II really appreciate Roy.

The fact you've done that followed up with this question on Psalm 82 Psalm 82, says God is taking his place in the divine counsel in the midst of the gods. He holds judgment.

How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked give justice to the week and the fatherless maintained the right of the afflicted and the destitute rescue the weak and the needy. Deliver them from the hand of the wicked. They have neither knowledge nor understanding. They walk about in darkness all the foundations of the earth are shaken. I said you are God's sons of the most high. All of you.

Nevertheless, like men, you shall die and fall like any prints arise. Oh God judge the earth for you shall inherit all the nation's Jeff is this picture of these divine judges if you will, and ultimately the main judge is God and the psalmist is calling upon him to come and judge the earth because the psalmist knows that only God is the perfectly just and righteous judge, and God here through this Psalm is rebuking the unjust judges and leaders of the world. In particular, of Israel who are judging but they're showing partiality, they're not giving justice to the week and fatherless verse three. Maintaining the right of the afflicted and the destitute. They're not doing what they should do rescue the weak and the needy. Deliver them from the hand of the wicked, and so God that it is is reminding them of their role of their position of what they should be doing. They are not the King of heaven and earth. They will die like men know your place.

It's it's it's as if that's what God is saying here know your place. Know your role you've been given this position of authority and yet you're abusing it and misusing it and not caring for the weak and needy like you should.

You will die like men do nothing. The words here, I think, are meant to humble us to humble those of us especially who are in positions of authority and of power, and to remind us to use those positions for good for caring for those who are in need for speaking the truth of God's word for delivering from the hand of the wicked, and ultimately there's the hope here in this Psalm Roy that God is the ultimate good and just judge and were looking to him and what an encouragement that is for us because just like any time in history you can look around the world today and say so much injustice there so much wickedness, wicked rulers and it's discouraging. It's disheartening and we look around and we think, what hope do we have with the psalmist, we can say in verse eight arise. Oh God judge the earth. You shall inherit the nations. The hope that we have, ultimately, is not in the wicked judges of this world, but in the true and the just judge of heaven and earth, who reigns over all things, and one day especially that were looking forward to the new creation. One day is going to make everything right and that's the hope that we have through Jesus and what he's accomplished for us in his death and resurrection your listing to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez hi Bill Meyer, and were wondering, have you or someone you love been struggling during this whole cobra 19 situation because we have an important resource to offer your day in April. What you tell us a little bit about that yes is a new one. Sometimes stoked about being able to offer this one today were offering our listeners a wonderful little book by Harold St. Bell called Christ and calamity.

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19. This is a little book that offers big comfort and you can reserve your copy today for a donation of any amount just head over to core Christianity.com/offers. You can also call us at 833-843-2673. That's 833. The core brother they drill on Bill my name is Yuri from send it ago and I am very much end up into the Scriptures. I have come to a conclusion of Paul's teachings contradict those of Jesus and all of those plenty of material presented on both sides, but I think if you look at the overall body of his message. Although it has elements of truth and righteousness that emphasizes on a regimen that I am whole fitness from his body of sin were the oldest righteousness and focus on right point in time. I no longer recognize Paul's writings of equal to that of Messiah. And I know multiple wondering what you wrote the word of God.

So my question to you is called to reason with my sisters in Christ because good things like over the time the message of Jesus as it was switching hands have become something else and sold now in the 21st century that I'm looking with my eyes at the words of Jesus. I don't think it's necessary to help bold interpretation of what Jesus meant to say ICU would use the just wanted to get your advice on that.

Thank you very much and I got what you think. Hey Yuri, thank you for calling and it sounds like were both in San Diego come to cartridge sometime that I do believe that Paul got Jesus right this is the finances.

I disagree with human wife studied Paul and Jesus, the more I've come to the conclusion.

Actually, that the term not saying anything different. Now they're different people. If you will.

Jesus is the eternal son of God, the God man all is a disciple of Jesus, and you remember how he became a disciple of Jesus.

He was persecuting the church.

Initially, the book of acts describes this. And Jesus knocked him off his horse while he was on his way to persecute believers and said to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me and Jesus is the one who called him into the church as a disciple as an apostle and gave him a message and sent him out to proclaim and preach and teach that message.

So the fact the matters Jesus himself is the one who handed this message.

This gospel onto Paul and Paul proclaimed that message and I don't think one.

I think that in and of itself should be enough to tell us these guys are on the same page that the Lord handed this gospel onto him and that Paul received this gospel from Jesus and this is actually what Paul says, in particular in the book of Galatians. I just finished preaching to Galatians out long ago. And early in that book is he's establishing his authority talks about how the gospel he received did not come from manner through man.

It came directly from the revelation of God directly from Jesus. So, that right there I think is an episode with Paul and Jesus are saying the same thing. Paul received his messages gospel from Jesus.

And it's not that Jesus is emphasizing righteousness and not grace. In other words, it would Jesus think I'm calling you holy living. And Paul is middle focusing on grace and how none of us lives a perfect life know they both emphasized the fact that the law of God is impossible to perfectly keep you think about the sermon on the Mount, Jesus, as if if if you look at a woman to lust for her. You already committed adultery.

Give hatred in your heart you already committed murder every single one of us is condemned by God's law and Paul brings that very same truth out in places like the book of Romans and the book of Galatians that are on the same page there and both of them emphasized justification by the free grace of God. Think about what Jesus said in Luke chapter 18 of the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, verse nine, Luke 18 verse nine. He also told this parable to some we trusted in themselves that they were righteous and treated others with contempt. He said two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee standing by himself prayed thus God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week.

I give tithes of all that I get, but the tax collector, standing far off would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying God be merciful to me a sinner I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted, who was justified there in that parable that Jesus Christ gave. It wasn't the righteous quote unquote Pharisee who fasted and tithing who was holy and was doing this that and the other it was the sinner. God justifies sinners.

It was the one who wouldn't even look up to heaven. He's beating his breast. He feels like he can even call upon the name of the Lord because he so confronted with this sin, and yet in mercy he's justified. This is precisely what the apostle Paul says in Romans chapter 4 verse five to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, and so brother I would say go back to believing that Paul and Jesus are on the same page and reading Paul and understanding what Paul says in understanding what Jesus says because there's no contradiction between the two.

They're both emphasizing the law of God there both emphasizing justification by the free forgiveness of God, and they both call us to holy living to walking with the Lord faithfully in truth and in righteousness, that were never going to do that perfect little we can be justified by our works. We are called in the light of the mercies of God, his goodness is forgiveness to follow him and to love each other and both Jesus and Paul teach that you are listing the core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and later we have a question from Jennifer who posted on our Facebook page she says my husband's uncle says he doesn't believe in God but he keeps asking us questions recently. He asked why God if he exists doesn't just make everything right and get rid of all the suffering and sinfulness in the world.

He's in his 80s newly widowed, never raised in church and is only ever heard Scripture at weddings and funerals. He is the one who brings these topics up and I was wondering how can I represent God properly will Jennifer first let me say a prayer for your uncle. Heavenly father, lift Jennifer's uncle up to you and I thank you that he's reflecting on these things and asking these questions at this critical time in his life, and I pray Lord that you would open his eyes and his heart to receive your word to come to know you, Jesus. With the death of his wife help them to know that you Jesus has conquered death of father would you would you bring them into your church. Would you safe and would you use Jennifer give her wisdom. She speaks to her uncle to be able to encourage him to comfort him in the midst of this time of great loss.

So again, what would you be with him in Jesus name, amen. I just think of your uncle and that the suffering that he must be going through right now with being recently widowed and the pain that he feels not at first, I want to say to him as God recognizes that there is a lot of evil and pain in the world that one of the evils in the world is death. We try to downplay it.

We try to pretend like it's just a natural part of life. But when death confronts us, whether it's in old age or to some tragedy or through some sickness, but it's never a beautiful thing.

It's not how God intended the world to be death entered into the world because of sin is the most unnatural thing insofar as it's not a part of how God initially created the world to be. It's the result of sin and I can imagine what it must be like for your uncle to be newly widowed after who knows how many years I am just so sorry to hear that but I would want to give them the hope that God did conquer evil and death and that's what Jesus was sent into the world to do any conquered death through his resurrection. It sounds like right now your uncle is his thinking a lot about death and and and that's the hope that we have is Christmas. I was just telling someone about this the other day. You know they asked me how you give comfort to people during this season of coronavirus were there so much anxiety were there so much fear related to the disease. People don't want to die there afraid of death. And I said look, Christianity is not the message of some great moral principles that are going to help us to be better people to live a good life now to live our best life now Christianity is the message that prepares us for death, insofar as in Christ death has been conquered and we have the hope of the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to combat is our hope.

As followers of Jesus as Christian. So Jennifer I would remind your uncle share with your uncle. That great message of the fact that God has conquered death right now God is calling all people to himself.

He's giving us time to repent and it sounds like your uncle has some more time. Maybe God is drawing your uncle to himself through these be circumstances. These difficult circumstances through no doubt the isolation that so many people are feeling right now because of coronavirus and and I'm sure he feels especially alone. I commend you sister for wanting to love him and care for him and seeking to answer these questions focus on who Jesus is on the fact that Jesus has provided for our greatest, the forgiveness of our sins. Overcoming that great and terrible monster that plagues humanity � through his resurrection.

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