Episode 455 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com Key questions answered in today’s show: 1. Hello, my name is Lou from Vincenza, Italy. I trust this note finds you and your families all well and safe from the virus. My question is regarding 2 Samuel 21:1–14, this passage has always perplexed me. It appears that David allows seven of Saul’s heirs to be put to death by the Gibeonites for revenge and in order to answer prayer on behalf of the land (v. 14). Am I reading this correctly? Is there a deeper meaning that I’m missing?  2. When you are attacked by demons, how does that affect your salvation?  3. How should we interpret the psalms? I heard someone say that all the psalms are about Jesus and not just the messianic ones. Isn’t that overdoing it? Some of the Psalms speak of sin and envy and fleshly problems. This seems to be some kind of overly Christological Hermeneutic? I heard Martin Luther had interpreted Psalm 1 as thinking of Christ as the Blessed Man in 1513, but then when he came back to the book decades later he changed his mind and interpreted it literally.  4. I am on several different medications to battle some odd anxiety issues that I have, for really no apparent reason. I know that pharmacy comes from the Greek word pharmakeia, which means witchcraft. I know that we are forbidden in God’s word to associate with witchcraft, and so I’ve had this burden on my spirit about being on medications, but without them I physically cannot function. What are your thoughts on that? Resources Core Christianity: Finding Yourself in God’s Story by Michael Horton Walking with Jesus Through His Word: Discovering Christ in All the Scriptures by Dennis Johnson Request our latest special offers here or call 1-833-THE-CORE (833-843-2673) to request them by phone.

Episode 436 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com Key questions answered in today’s show: 1. Pastor Adriel and Bill, I have repented of sexual immorality and drunkenness. I know without a doubt that those things are against God’s law, and I am sorry for committing those sins. However, I am older (62), and I sometimes wonder if I genuinely repented or is my decreased desire to do those things a function of getting older. Thanks. 2.  I don’t know how you feel about this, but I’m not a Christian. I’m agnostic, but I am a theology major at Arkansas State University … And I just want to know, what exactly does the Bible say against women, you know, women loving other women. I know that there’s a Bible verse, you know, man shall not lay with man, but what exactly does it say about lesbians? Because it doesn’t say anything specific that I’ve heard, but maybe there, you know, you know more about it than I do. So I was just wondering, you know about that. I just had a question about that. Thank you so much. God Bless. 3. Jesus established, during his ministry, that he had the authority and power to directly and immediately forgive sins. Why instead, when he was on the cross, did he pray asking the Father to forgive the accessories to his murder rather than just forgiving them directly by saying, “I forgive you,” or “your sins are forgiven”? Was this an indication that they would be forgiven when they realized what they had done and repented, like when they were “cut to the heart” on Pentecost? I ask this because I frequently hear Christians say we should forgive even when the offender doesn’t repent, but what I read in all my studies is that forgiveness is contingent on repentance. Can you help me understand? 4.  I was reading Ephesian 4:30, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” I was just kind of puzzled by the phrase “do not grieve the Holy Spirit.” I was just wanting to know your interpretation and thoughts on what that means and how we grieve the Holy Spirit in our lives. 5. Hi guys! Thanks so much for your ministry! I was wondering, given all of the disappointing things King Saul did, do we have any good reason to believe that we will see him in heaven? Resources Core Christianity: Finding Yourself in God’s Story by Michael Horton Request our latest special offers here or call 1-833-THE-CORE (833-843-2673) to request them by phone.

Episode 586 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com 1. I recently was reading to my children a new children’s book about the bible and the book described sin as loving things more than God. It warned the kids that if they love anything too much, like their parents and friends, then this is the definition of sin. Is that the entirety of what sin is? I understand that we need to love God supremely; however, I don’t necessarily want my children insecure or afraid if they love me or their father too much. Is there a better way to talk to the kids about sin or is this how we really should talk to them?  2. I have always struggled with my faith. I have been through a lot of rough experiences, from being in prison, to drug addiction, to seeing family members die, and I have earnestly and sincerely asked God to speak to me during these situations, lots of other people believe God speaks to them, but I have never ever heard God speak to me. Not once. Does he speak to anybody today? 3. In Matthew 1:18 it says before Joseph and Mary came together she was found to be pregnant and verse 19 says that because Joseph “resolved to divorce her quietly.” And then right after that in verse 20 it says “don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife.” My question is, was Mary and Joseph married before she was pregnant or after she became pregnant? 4.  I’m having trouble knowing how to feel unified with the body when there is so much bad theology out there. I spent my childhood in a charismatic, prosperity gospel church and it has made me very sensitive to those things. I now feel that teaching should be exegetical and Christ focused, but it seems to be very hard to find people who agree with me. I see churches taking a topical approach to scripture that often avoids the subject of sin and feels more like a self help guide. I’ve been told I’m being too skeptical. I know that many of my friends believe the gospel so I consider them my brother or sister in Christ, but it’s hard for me to feel unified when our beliefs and focal points are so far apart. How can I keep from being too critical of immaturity or a difference of beliefs, while staying sensitive to false teaching? Today’s Offer Christ Devotional: Jesus Christ – Promised Messiah Request our latest special offers here or call 1-833-THE-CORE (833-843-2673) to request them by phone. Want to partner with us in our work here at Core Christianity? Consider becoming a member of the Inner Core. Resources Core Christianity: Finding Yourself in God’s Story by Michael Horton The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims on the Way by Michael Horton