Speaker 1: From the Christian Research Institute and Charlotte, North Carolina. You're
listening to the Bible answer Man broadcast with Hank Canagraph.
We are on the air because life and truth matter.
The mission of the Christian Research Institute is to equip
believers to always be prepared to give an answer to
everyone who asks you, to give the reason for the
hope that you have with gentleness and respect. For more
information resources or to donate to CRI, call eight eight
eight seven thousand CRI, or go online to equip dot org.
The following program was pre recorded and now here's Bible
answer Man host Hank Canagraph.
Speaker 2: Thank you very much, Randy. Our contact information on the
web equipped dot org and via the mail it's box
eighty five hundred, Charlotte, North Carolina, zip code two eight two.
This month, we're moving into the category of reading. During
the summer, a lot of people do what they don't
normally do, and that is read and we have some
good resources available for those who support the ministry. This
month the Last Disciples series. It's a trilogy, it's historical fiction.
What it does, though, is it gives you a handle
on the logical truth propositions that are part and parcel
of a healthy worldview on eschatology. I think you'll find
the books incredibly insightful, stimulating their page turners. Again available
for those who support the ministry, check it out on
the web at equip dot org. Should also mention that
June is a very significant month in our history. Each
and every year, December is the most critical month, and
lagging not far behind is June. This is the end
of our fiscal year, not obviously the calendar year, but
the fiscal year, and so if you can support the ministry,
it would be deeply appreciated, used for God's glory and
for the extension of his kingdom. Getting back to reading,
the numbers of people not reading is simply staggering, and
I hope that you will become the exception to the rule.
A full quarter of the population did not so much
as read a single book in the past year. But
the good news is that, as with technology, all of
us can get hooked on reading all over again. There
are so many benefits to reading it's hard to know
where to begin. Reading improves discipline, vocabulary, it improves memory, creativity,
and even relaxation. Plus it can even stay off diseases
such as Alzheimer's. More importantly, reading engages you with another mind,
and when it comes to reading Scripture, the implications are
simply staggering. By its words, we are brought into direct
communication with the mind of God. And not only so,
we have access to the minds of writers directly inspired
by the Divine. Thus, in the pages of the inspired
text we have mind to mind connection with minds that
were awash in uncreated energy. Well as much more I
could say about reading, and maybe I will, But we
have a number of books, as I just mentioned available
The Last Disciple trilogy has God spoken Muslim. These books
available as my other books available for those who support
the ministry. All this month, the critical month of June.
It is so important that we achieve a financial stability
as a result of the month of June. Each year
you've given a safe, secure fashion on the web equipped
dot org or as I mentioned, via the mailbox eighty
five hundred Charlotte, North Carolina, zip code two eight two
seven to one. Let's go to the phone lines. Judy
listening in Oklahoma.
Speaker 3: Hi, Judy, Hi, thank you for taking my call. It
was told to me to call the babl answer man
to get the solution to our discussion here. In Duterominy
twenty four, it talks about a couple being married, the
husband divorces the wife, he remarries another, and it says like,
if she dies or they divorce, he's not allowed to
go back and marry the original spouse because that was
an abomination to God. So is that true for today?
Speaker 2: Is that?
Speaker 3: Just are we under grace that God redeems and forgives
or for the abomination is a huge word.
Speaker 2: So well, there's a historical context, and you're right in
pointing that out divorce was wide spread in the ancient
Near East, and therefore the commands given in Deuteronomy were
given in order to regulate an existing practice. And in
the context, remarried to her former husband would be tenemount
to legal adultery, and therefore it was detestable to the Lord.
But if you look at what Jesus Christ says in
the Sermon on the Mount, it has said anyone who
divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.
But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife
except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress
and anyone who marries divorced woman commits adultery, gives you
the intent of what the law was. And furthermore, Jesus
Christ makes clear that what's going on is a detestable
practice for the reason that men would put away women
for any or every reason. In other words, they use
the lever right law. They used the laws given within
the context of an ancient theocratic kingdom as the basis
to do what they wanted to do. So it was
tantamount to tithing your mint, but neglecting the way to
your matters of the law, justice, righteousness, and equity. And
that's what really is at the heart of this. We
are not to see the other sex as an object
for our own enjoyment or use some kind of legalistic
prescription to do what we want, but we are to
treat another person self lesslie as opposed to selfishly. So
there's an intent behind the law. The law originally to
protect a woman in the Old Testament, but ultimately to
subscribe to that which the Bible ultimately appeals to, and
that is complete ontological equality and not the abuse of
another person.
Speaker 3: Okay, So is that just are we under grace now
that that can happen or you know, like if they repented,
got right with the Lord, wanted to get the original
family intact, are they allowed to do that or not?
Speaker 2: Well, if in fact there is a door to reconciliation
that is open, yes, we must always walk through the
door of reconciliation because that is the ultimate goal. The
ultimate goal is reconciliation. Reconciliation always requires two parties. There's
someone who is willing to forgive and someone wanting to
be forgiven, and so that is the ultimate good that
we should always strive towards. And there are some cases
in which that door to reconciliation simply isn't open, and
that is because someone has married someone else and then
unscrambling the egg leads to a multiplicity of problems.
Speaker 3: Right, So I can see that. And I didn't know
if it was like in the Old Testament that they
didn't want wife swapping, you know, back and forth to this.
But I thought, well, if if a wife was never
married again and the other marriage ended, I just didn't
know if that would be an abomination to God in
this day and age to consider that.
Speaker 2: So the question becomes, you get divorced, and the question
is is an abomination to get remarried to.
Speaker 3: The original one if at the marriage that he was
in doesn't work out.
Speaker 2: Well, again, there's a whole lot of conjecture there. I mean,
there's a lot of explaining to do. Why did the
marriage not work out? Ultimately, the intent here is love
and reconciliation as opposed to using every reason possible to
do something that becomes selfish instead of self less. I mean,
that's the intent. So the intent is the protection of
a person. But you can't look at a situation where
a man is married to a woman, then the man
gets out of that marriage and marries the original person
that they were married to. That's the metaphor I was
using with respect to unscrambling the egg, which can't do.
So if someone gets a divorce, that's one mistake. They
get remarried. Now they're going to compound the error by
getting divorced again and marrying the original person. No, you
have to move on and be faithful to the commitment
that you have at that point.
Speaker 3: Okay, Well, if I, like you know, said in the Bible,
if that.
Speaker 2: Spouse dies, well, if that spouse dies, I mean that's
why I said, there's a lot explaining to do. There
are a lot of converging factors that are possible. Certainly,
if that spouse dies, it would not be an abomination
if the Lord led you to get remarried to the
original person, you know, in other words, if there's no
obstacle in the way morally or ethically in doing that.
I don't see anything that would preclude that. But I
do think that that has to be done in concert
with prayerful consideration before the Lord and good counseling within
the context of a healthy, well bounced church.
Speaker 3: Right, all right, well, thank you, I appreciate it.
Speaker 2: You got it. Thank you so much for your call
coming to the station. Break will be right back.
Speaker 1: In our post truth age of confus usion, the need
for Christians to be equipped with answers has never been greater.
The Christian Research Institute exists to provide those answers, and
this provision is made possible only by people like you,
people unafraid to stand up for truth while it's under assault.
People like you, whose contributions to our many outreaches are
making a difference for time and eternity. Stand with Hank
Hanagraph and the Christian Research Institute during the Key month
of June to ensure that we end the financial year
in a position of strength. To make a gift to
support CRI's life changing outreaches, simply call eight eight eight
seven thousand CROI. That's eight eight eight seven thousand CROI
or visit us at equip dot org. Thank you, don't
go anywhere. We're coming right back with more answers from
The Bible answer Man. The Complete Bible answer Book Collector's
Edition is the comprehensive collection of the most often asked
questions Hank Hannigraph has received throughout his four decades as
host of The Bible answer Man broadcast. With more than
half a million copies already in print, this newly revised
and expanded Collector's Edition helped seekers and skeptics alike sort
through the truth on topics such as reliability of the Bible,
religions and cults, the resurrection and afterlife, and many more
issues vital to a better understanding of God in Christ
and our relationship to Him. To receive your copy of
The Complete Bible answer Book Collector's Edition, Revised and expanded,
call eight eight eight seven thousand CRII and make a
gift to support the Christian Research Institute's Life changing outreaches
eight eight eight seven thousand CRII or visit us at
equip dot org. The Soviet Red Army won the Battle
of Stalingrad. It appeared at first the Nazi war machine
would secure the victory, but the Soviets battled back from
near certain defeat with extraordinary courage and resoluteness to turn
the tide of the battle and ultimately the war. The
lesson is that both men and material people and provisions
played a critical role. Willingness to fight and munitions in
the arsenal were pivotal. Our contemporary battle for truth against
anti Christian secularists raises the stakes above the significance of Stalingrad.
CRII likewise needs military partners willing to stand for truth,
along with the financial means to accomplish the mission. Stand
with us during the key month of June to end
the fiscal year in a position of strength. Call eight
eight eight seven thousand CROI and make a gift to
support CRI's life changing outreaches or visit equip dot org.
Has God spoken? Are the words of Scripture merely human
in origin? Or are they in fact the very words
of God himself. Three years in the making and based
on two decades of research and reflection, Hank Henagraph's monumental
book Has God Spoken answers what is surely the most
important question facing our world. In Has God Spoken? Memorable
proofs of the Bible's Divine inspiration, Hank counters the contentions
of the Bible attackers and clearly shows that belief in
the Holy Scriptures is not a guess or wishful thinking.
It is the only logical conclusion after an honest examination
of overwhelming evidence. Order Has God Spoken? From the Christian
Research Institute by calling eighty eight seven thousand CRII, or
go online to equip dot org. Equip dot org and
now here's Hank Anagraph.
Speaker 2: Thank you, Randy. Back to the phone lines. Ana next
listening in Tacoma, Washington, Hyannah.
Speaker 4: Hi, Hank, thank you for taking my call pleasure. I
just have a quick question. Is it possible to call
yourself a Christian, a believer in Jesus Christ, but yet
not be a disciple.
Speaker 2: No, I don't think it is possible, And I think
that if you understand what discipleship is, a disciple is
a learner or a follower of Jesus Christ. And this
does not just entail understanding truth propositions about Christ. It
means that you follow him in his manner of life,
which means that you embrace the disciplines that Christ embraced.
So if Christ fasted, we should fast. If Christ talked
about giving alms to the poor and exemplified that very
thing in his own ministry, we ought to do the
same thing. In other words, we need to partake of
the graces that God gives us, to partake of, graces
by which we are transformed, and graces by which we
become transformational, meaning that we can transform the world as well.
So yeah, I mean a disciple as a learner or
follower of Jesus Christ. And if we simply give lip
service to believing things about Christ but don't embrace his
manner of life, then we are hardly truly followers of
Christ or believers.
Speaker 4: And that's kind of the way that I perceived it.
I had been hearing certain teachers that tend to be
more of that hyper grace teachers insinuating that it's possible
to have a mental belief in Jesus yet not you know,
have to follow him and not have to learn of
him and not have to you know, everything that you
just mentioned earlier, don't have to do any of that.
All you have to do is in your mind, just
believe in Jesus. And it's never set well with me.
Speaker 2: Yeah, and it ought not to set well with you.
And this is part of the cheap grace kind of
pandemonium that we have in Christianity, where you pray a
prayer and then you have a card that keeps you
out of hell and gets you into heaven, but your
life doesn't change. I mean, if you're a follower of
Jesus Christ, your life will be transformed because you will
be in the spiritual gymnasium. You will gymnasize yourself, as
Paul said to Timothy, unto godliness. So we want to
embrace the life of Christ. And Christ had twelve followers.
They were with him, and Christ modeled how to live
the Christian life, and therefore they were legitimately called his disciples.
Speaker 4: It's right, well, thank you, Hank. That that kind of
affirms to me because that's what I had experienced in
my own life as a radical transformation of my life.
You know, after coming to Christ and being born again
and I'm seeing a lot of theology.
Speaker 2: That is.
Speaker 4: I've even heard people say that you're a false convert
if you say that your life has been changed since
you know, coming to Christ. So there's a lot of confusion.
But I was pretty sure from reading the scriptures myself
and from what my own experience was, that that was
truly false.
Speaker 2: Yeah, And you know, Paul, and it makes a distinction
between dead works and living works. So if you engage
in works the flesh, the kinds of works that Paul
talks about in Glatians chapter five, that obviously is not good.
And dead works can even be works that are good
in nature, but they're done for the wrong reason. In
other words, they're done out of a selfish motive. And
that's why God looks at the heart. We see the
outer appearance. God looks at the heart. So dead works
are spoken out against voluminously in scripture. Living works, however,
these are works that are done which are not only
done for a good purpose, but they are good works
in and of themselves. And this is the kind of
work that Scripture commends. I mean, you think about Jesus
saying that if you give a piece of bread and
a cup of water in his name. Then you've done
that unto him. If you've done that to someone else
one of the least you've done it unto Jesus. Well,
that's a great commendation, not only too mouth a particular
set of beliefs, but it is to actually put those
beliefs in practice. And that's why James is pretty strong
about this. He's talking about the fact that you know
that if you have faith without works, then that faith
ends up being dead faith because true faith always manifests
itself in the works.
Speaker 1: That you do.
Speaker 4: Yep, I agree. Well, thank you for taking that call.
I appreciate it and I'll be praying for you. Hank.
Speaker 2: Thank you, and it was a pleasure talking to you.
Thank you. Back to the phone as we'll talk to
Anthony listening in Longview, Texas by Anthony Hank.
Speaker 5: How are you doing today?
Speaker 2: I'm good.
Speaker 5: I got a question specifically about the Second Caribbean, Chapter two,
verse two, and the question is he says, am you
man fourteen years ago, and who was called up to
the third level of heaven and the just the fact
that there's levels of heaven is kind of beyond me.
If maybe you can elaborate a little bit and kind
of explain to me the different levels of heaven.
Speaker 2: Yeah, well, it's not different levels of heaven, it's different
ways in which heaven is used in the text of scripture.
And so you can think about the first heaven is
the atmosphere which surrounds the earth. The reason I say
that is Job points out that the frost in the
wind come from heaven, and Deuteronomy says that the dew
comes from heaven, and Psalm says that clouds are in
the heavens. And then you can think of the second
heaven as the celestial heavens, where the heavens are the
realm of the sun, the moon, the stars, which God
placed in the heavens. We see that in Genesis chapter one.
But the third heaven that's in view, and I think
the passage is Tewod Corinthiers chapter twelve. The third heaven
that is in view is the dwelling place of God,
and that's what's in view when Jesus taught us to
pray our Father, which art in heaven. So that's the idea,
and that's in essence what happens when we die. We're
absent from the body, we're present with the Lord, and
so we're in the realm of God, in the dwelling
place of God until the time that Jesus appears the
second time. Reginald. Next he's listening in ohio. Hi, Reginald, Hi, Hey.
Speaker 6: Thank you take it by call. What is your understand
of the nature of God? How do one know that
nature of God?
Speaker 2: Yeah? You know what's interesting about that, Reginald, is you
know that because not only did the Church pass on
the letters of the Great Apostles, so that we have
a corpus of twenty seven books ultimately ratified in Church history,
codified formally in three sixty seven by Athanasius the Great.
So not only we to have that, but we also
have proper interpretition of the scriptures passed down for us.
And those proper interpretations with respect to the nature of
God are amplified, they're underscored in the great ecumenical councils.
Some of the early Church fathers talked about those ecumenical councils,
particularly the First four, which developed Christology and Trinitarian theology.
They talked about those councils in the same breath as
talking about the Four Gospels. So these are important truths
that have been passed down and hammered out on the
envil of history. And I don't think in the twenty
first century we ought to be redefining that the Church
passed on not only the books of the Bible, but
passed on a proper way of reading the books of
the Bible. And I think we ought to take that seriously.
Speaker 6: Okay, So that's like you myself come to agreement. Is
that what it is? It's fine by the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 2: Well, no, I think that what we have is we
have the treasure trove of history where godly men that
were anointed to give us the corpus of scripture also
gave us a proper interpretation with respect to scripture. And
I think the problem today is that we oftentimes succumb
to a wide ranging cornucopia, if you will, of people
who are coming up with new interpretations in our epic
of time. And I think that's a huge, huge mistake.
I think what we need to do is go back
and see not only the books that God has given
us and read those in a sanctified sense, but also
we need the wisdom to understand what we're reading. You
think about Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. Philip asked the
Ethiopian eunuch, do you understand what you're reading? And what
did the eunuch say? How can I unless someone teach me?
Speaker 4: So?
Speaker 2: There are hard things in scripture, things that are hard
to understand. And I think we are very blessed that
we have historically a legacy that we can follow, and
that legacy has been found to be tried and true,
particularly when it comes to the essential of the historic
Christian faith. And as I said earlier, no greater essential
than having a proper grasp of the nature of God.
Virtually every single theological heresy begins with the misconception of
nature of God. Thanks for the conversation, Reginald. We are
out of time for this edition of the viblence Man
broadcast as shout out to all of you who stand
shulder to shoulder with me and the midst of the
Christian Research Institute in the battle for life and truth.
You're touching the lives of people for time and for eternity,
and for that you have my deepest gratitude and thanks.
You can give it a say secure fashion on the
women equip dot org or write me at post of
his box eighty five one hundred, Charlotte, North Carolina, zip
code two eight two seven one.
Speaker 1: So long for now, Thank you for joining us today.
June is one of the most important months for the
Bible answer Man Broadcast. That's because we close out another
financial year, and we can do so successfully only if
listening friends like you stand with us, prayerfully and financially.
With your gift, you'll help see our I impact even
more lives with God's truth. Please call eight eight eight
seven thousand CRI and make a gift to support CRI's
life changing outreaches eight eight eight seven thousand CRII, or
simply visit online at equip dot org. The Bible Answerman
Broadcast is funded by listeners like you. We're on the
air because life and truth matter. The Complete Bible answer
Book Collector's Edition is the comprehensive collection of the most
often asked questions Hank Hannigraph has received throughout his four
decades as host of the Bible answer Man Broadcast. With
more than half a million copies already in print, this
newly revised and expanded Collector's Edition helped seekers and skeptics
alike sort through the truth on topics such as reliability
of the Bible, religions and cults, the resurrection and afterlife,
and many more issues vital to a better understanding of
God in Christ and our relationship to Him. To receive
your copy of the Complete Bible answer Book Collector's Edition,
Revised and expanded, call eight eight eight seven thousand CRII
and make a gift to support the Christian Research Institute's
life changing outreaches eight eight eight seven thousand CRII or
visit us at EQUIP dot org.