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Now let's jump in. Every single one of us is marred by an attitude of disobedience towards God, and it separates us from our Heavenly Father who loves us. But here's the good news: there's hope in Christ. Let's figure out how to find it. Coming up right now on the PV Today Show.
You're listening to Clearview Today with Dr. Abadan Shah, the daily show that engages mind and heart for the gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm Ryan Hill. I'm John Galantis. Welcome to the Clearview Today Show.
We're here live in the studio with our host, Dr. Abadan Shah. Dr. Shah, yesterday we had a great discussion about sin, but all of this is under the umbrella of people. How are we to look at people as we relate to God?
That's right. And today we're going to answer some of the tough questions that viewers have asked us or listeners and hearers are asking us about sin. Like, you know, are all people sinful? Or how about babies? What happens to them?
I know we covered some of these things, but there were some.
some more questions that came.
So we're gonna try to answer some of those questions, questions like, Are there degrees of sin? Yeah. You're not telling me if I tell a white lie, I'm just as guilty as a murderer. Yeah, yeah. What happens when a Christian sins?
I mean, that's another question.
So, these are questions we're going to. Hopefully, take on today and help answer some of those extra questions that people had. Yeah. That's right. Understanding a little bit more about the mechanics of sins and how it impacts us.
And maybe you're one of those people that's got burning questions. You know, we have a phone number that you can text. And if today's your first time, we want you to text us anyway: 252-429-6069. Text today, T-O-D-A-Y, if it's your first time texting into the show. But if you've got questions that you want answered, That's what we're here to do.
So make sure you text us, 252-429-6069. On yesterday's episode, Dr. Shaw, we talked a little bit about sin, how we inherit sin, how it kind of has entered into creation, entered into humanity through Adam, through the generations. Obviously, you know, Jesus himself was not sinful, but every human since then, born sinful. But it's not just that we're born with a sin nature, we also choose sin.
We commit sin before God. That's right. We are sinful. And then we sin.
So People ask me Are we Sinful first, or are we sinners first? And I said, You are sinful first because of the sin nature. You do sin, but then we compound that by sinning away, which is just we're digging a hole, and we keep going deeper and deeper into this hole of sin. And all people Are sinful before God. In Psalm fourteen, verse two, it says, The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men.
to see if there are any who understand. Any who see God, They have all turned aside, They have together become corrupt. There is none. who does good No, not one. The question that people have asked through the ages is: well, how about?
Let's say Plato and Aristotle You know, these were just philosophers. Who believed in God? I mean, it's not like they believed in. The triune God, but they believed in God. They were not atheists.
By the way, atheism, this whole idea. Of atheism was looked down upon in the Greek world. Even in other religion other cultures and civilizations, if you said I'm an atheist, I don't believe in God. People look at you like that. That was a weird take.
And that's why the Bible says a fool has said in his heart. A fool. You have to be a foolish person to say there is no God.
So, in today's world, in the 21st century, when people go around saying, you know, I don't believe in God. in ancient times among the best of the best. And I know I'm kind of deviating from the topic of sin. But Some of the most intelligent people would have said, You are a fool. That was not something to be proud of.
Yeah. Yeah. And I think even today, It's sort of a weird claim. Like we've talked about it a lot on the show, but it's sort of a weird claim to be like, nope, definitively, there is no God. At best, you could say, I just don't know, and I don't think it's possible to know.
All right, fine. Then you're not an atheist. Yeah, that's agnosticism. That's something that's a big jump in a short amount of time. I mean, most people, it doesn't take very long to move them to agnosticism to say that, could it be that there is some portion of knowledge out there in the universe that you don't contain?
Is there a 1% chance? Yeah, I mean, I guess so.
Okay, so then you can't be an atheist. And I do think, I mean, I do agree with you 100%. In ancient times, you would have been looked at as weird. I think it's weird today. I think you're a weirdo if you say that there isn't a God and I won't believe it.
That's that's kind of weird. Absolutely. I mean, that's like Against all evidence to the contrary, that there's someone who made all this, and you're saying and there's a design to it, there's a complexity to it, to the nature, to the universe, to the stars, to the planets, to our world, a human body. I mean, it's so complex. And you still claim that there is no no No creator?
Yeah, something's wrong with you.
Something's wrong with you. You've closed off your mind and you've closed off your heart to the possibility of God. And isn't that just. Another place that Sim comes from. It's compounded.
That's right. So coming back to our subject here. Throughout history, people have asked that question. How about good people? Good people.
They may not be believers, but they're good people who do believe in God just not the same way as we do. Gandhi. He's going to be in heaven, right? Surely. He did a lot of good.
A lot of good. A lot of good stuff he said. He helped a lot of people. No. Psalm 143, verse 2.
Do not enter into judgment with your servant. For in your sight no one living is righteous. Yeah, I think that trips up a lot of people. I think I'm glad you brought up Gandhi because he's one of those that we talked about, I think, in the very first episode where we started talking about sin. You know, sin.
And people doing morally wrong is judged by how much harm it does to other people. For some reason, that's our standard as human beings. And so you look at someone like Gandhi and you say, well, he helped way more people than he hurt.
So how can he? Not be a sinner. And the Bible says in Romans 3:9, for we have previously charged. Both Jews and Greeks. When Paul says Greeks, he's not talking about just.
The people coming. From the Greek Isles, he's talking about Gentiles. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. That's a huge statement. Yeah.
The Hebrews, the people of Israel, the Jewish people, they are people of God. They are the chosen people. Through them, the Messiah came. They are not finished. One day God's going to once again work in them and through them.
Having said that, They're all under sin. That's right. Every single one of us. Unless they come through Jesus Christ. Yeah.
And there's the famous one, Romans 3:23, for all have sinned and fall short. Of the glory of God. This feels pretty bleak. This feels pretty hopeless. Paul's laid it down here in Romans about like everybody is sinful.
It doesn't matter if you are a philanthropist. It doesn't matter if you're a homeless person. It doesn't matter if you are a billionaire donating to a charity. It doesn't matter if you are a criminal. Everybody's sinful.
Yeah. And I also think it's a great answer for those people who balk from Christianity because they're like, you know, I don't want to. Be around people who are calling me a sinner. You pretend like you're righteous, but you're just as big a sinner. I've never met a Christian who's, I mean, I'm sure they're out there, but I've never met a single Christian who says, No, I'm righteous and you're not.
No, every single one of us have sinned. And I think that's what, you know, Dr. Sha, correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think there's another world faith out there that claims that. Right. All of us, every single one of us, are equally guilty.
Yeah, I mean Islam will say that, but then it completely minimizes the holiness of God because it says, well, that's okay. Yes, we're all sinful. But All you have to say, God, forgive me and help me. It's all good. This whole dying on the cross business, this whole shedding of blood that God has to give His Son in your place to become your substitute, to take God's wrath upon Himself, all that?
Absolutely not necessary.
Well, yeah, you have you have admitted that we're all sinners, but then you lowered the standard of holiness. The sin is just like Yeah, I'm sorry. Oh.
Well, then you're fine, yeah. But I'm in an oops, but Allah's forgiveness means nothing, right? It means nothing because it has whether Allah forgives you for that sin or not does not matter, it doesn't mean you're going to spend eternity with Him, yeah, even then.
So, it's like, What do I want? Yeah, so what is the forgiveness for? Yeah, what was He forgiving me for? Just to absolve my conscience in that moment, but yeah, so I can live another day, maybe it doesn't mean anything eternally, yeah, no, it has no consequence. I don't care if I'm forgiven or not because it's still a 50-50 shot at the end of the day, right?
That's why when people talk about Islam, or you know, recently some people have said it's like, Well, you know, in their way of salvation. No, there is no salvation there. It's extreme sovereignty of Allah that on the day of judgment He gets to decide whether or not you're going to heaven. whether you did all the five pillars and did everything just right, It doesn't matter. On the Day of Judgment He will decide.
Wow.
So. It's a big jumble because, on one hand, you're like. Just tell Ga Allah you're sorry, And he will forgive you. Allah is all compassionate and merciful. But then on the other hand, but that does not mean you're going to heaven.
Like whoa. But what do I do to go to heaven? That's not on us.
So sometimes when Muslim apologist or even you know, th the the the street person who has a very meagre understanding of Islam. Or the Quran, they go, Oh, yeah, you have to do this. Or you, if you. me you know, die for the faith or if you're a martyr, then you're That's all anecdotal. That's all.
Folk Islam. That's not exactly according to the Quran. Yeah. And our belief about sin extends to how we see other people, you know, where sin is, how we get sin. This feeds into a conversation we began on yesterday's episode about, you know, when a person becomes sinful, when sin enters into that person, or when that sin nature takes hold.
And you said yesterday, Dr. Shah, that that happens from the moment that person is. That's right. There's never a human that exists apart from a sin nature. Motive and will are such a huge part of, I think, culpability in when we look at morality.
And you even mentioned that earlier, like, well, I did something really bad, but I didn't really mean to, or my intentions were good. It was an accident. And we put so much on that. And I think it shows in how we ask that question. What about babies?
They have no ill motive. They have no will. They have no. Choice or free reign to choose Christ. And so we are caught up on this issue of.
You know, what happens to babies who who don't get to live that full life?
Well, th there's a lot of confusion there. There's a lot of disagreement there. I want to go back to Scripture because Scripture is our guide, or Scriptures are our guide. And when I say that, I'm talking about Genesis to Revelation, Old Testament and New Testament. Psalm fifty one verse five, which we read on yesterday's show.
David said, Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity. and in sin my mother conceived me Once again he is not uh referring to The act of sexual intercourse. He's referring to the act of the point of conception where his father and mother coming together. brought David into being in his mother's womb. And the moment he's brought into being is when there is sin in his life.
He is born in sin.
So that's one. Psalm fifty eight verse three. The wicked are estranged from the womb. They go astray as soon as they are born speaking lies.
So here it gets more specific. The Wicked Who are conceived? right from the get-go, they're headed in the wrong direction. Luke 1.15. Wait a minute.
For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall neither drink wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. This is John. The Baptist. The baptizer He is described as being filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother's womb.
Translated from conception, he will be full of the Holy Spirit.
So on one hand, In sin my mother conceived me. But then with the wicked, They are estranged from God, from The conception The righteous are filled with the Holy Spirit, like John the Baptizer. From the moment of conception. Here's another one. Psalm twenty two, verse nine.
But you are he who took me out of the womb? you made me trust while on my mother's breasts I was cast upon ye from birth, from my mother's womb, you have been my God. Do you think this is hyperbole? Do you think this is poetic expression, or do you think this is doctrine? That the righteous are saved?
Great, great question. I think it is doctrine because. If we begin to s you know, somehow Put this in some kind of a hierarchical system that. certain scriptures go into doctrine, some go poetic, some go this and that, then we're going to get ourselves in a lot of trouble. That's a good point.
Yes. The way we interpret them may require different strategies based on the genre. But At the end of the day, these 66 books, 39 in the old, 27 in the new, and I'm going by the. Protestant canon. They are the word of god any portion of it regardless of the genre Is the word of God.
Yeah. So this right here has to be. Tell me if you think this is a discussion for another day, because I don't want to take us down a rabbit hole completely opposite of where we're going. Do you think these are verses that someone could point to and say, see, God saves us before we're ever born? He already knows.
So you know what I'm saying? Predestines those. Yeah, yeah. Context, context, context.
So in the context, Psalm 22, David's Psalm. He's referring to himself. But also he's referring to the Messiah. This is a messianic psalm.
So he's referring to himself that God chose me from my mother's womb. to be the great king of Israel. to lead God's people. God chose David. Of course, we can see that.
But then it's also prophetic because Jesus was chosen by his heavenly father. From his mother's home. Humanly speaking. Of course, he was. chosen to be God's Lamb from the foundation of the world.
We've covered a lot on that regarding the incarnation, regarding when did Jesus become man?
Well, ideally speaking, that was already settled, but in time and place, it happened during the incarnation.
So Yes, context is our guide. And if you go by context, Then The doctrine is very simple. Here Certain people are Are called by God to serve Him. This is not about salvation. This is about What we do is we make everything, even with the predestination thing in Romans, we want to make everything about salvation.
Am I going to heaven or am I not? Right. And I think what you, what you just said there is exactly right because David, we think, okay, so God chose David. Therefore, David is just saved from birth. He has no choice in the matter whether or not.
But he definitely had a choice. He chose to follow God, to listen, he'd become king. He chose to sin.
So he chose in both directions. We see that his choice had consequences for the good and for the bad.
So I think that's a great answer to that question. That was a tricky question that somebody asked because we sort of. hinted on it. on the last show About Do all babies go to heaven? And uh That's a tough one, and I can only say that this is just best.
left up to God's grace, but if I were s sort of forced to answer I would answer it this way. God has special favour Special favorite. on the children of those who believe. Does that mean he doesn't care about the children of the unbelievers? No.
He cares about all babies everywhere, but he has special favor on the children of those who believe. And I can give you several references here. The first one is Genesis 7, verse 1. Then the LORD said to Noah, If you know anything about Noah, he was a man who walked with God, he was a righteous man in his generation. Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation.
You and your household get to come in because you are righteous. Yeah, I think that's It's certainly tough. And I can think of the person who's driving in their car listening to that and listening to what you just said: that God has special favor on the children of those who believe, and their heart sinks a little bit because maybe they have a friend who's lost, who did lose a child. Maybe they have some family member who they know isn't walking right with God and maybe something like that happens to them. But special favor on these children doesn't mean that Babies of the lost babies of People who are lost go straight to hell.
Yeah, I don't know that. My pay grade doesn't go that far. But I like how you've answered this question in the past: you know what? I don't know, but I trust God's grace. Yes.
That's how you've always answered that. And I think that's the wisest answer you can give. Yeah, but if somebody pushes me in the corner and says, no, you have to tell me, I can go to some of these references. Can I give a couple of them? Yeah, yeah, please.
Joshua 2:18. Unless when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father's household to your own home.
Okay, this is talking to Rahab, this Madam who was living right by the wall of Jericho. The Hebrew spies came to her house, they stayed there, and uh she protected them. And then she begged them and she said, Look, I know God is with you. I know that our strength has failed us. We are hearing the exploits of your people.
Please, when you come into the land, I have shown you grace. I have kept you safe. Please do the same for me. And so what is the word of the spies to Rahab? If you bring all your family into your home, they will be safe.
So she was righteous, and because of her righteousness before the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Her whole household, Was safe. There may be people who are listening to this that would say, Well, what about the people who are not believers? Are they going to, are they going to be upset and saying, Well, God, you're just saying, just because I don't believe, you're not going to let my kid go to heaven? Do you believe in heaven?
Do you believe in a life after this? Do you believe in the God that you're asking to save your own kid? And we're saying here, you know, we're trusting God's grace and trusting God's mercy, but you're using sort of outlying examples to justify a point. And it's not the case that if you don't believe in God, you're an enemy of God, you want nothing to do with Christianity, but your son or your daughter, your kid. Grows up, believes, and is and accepts Jesus.
It's not because, like, well, I'm not going to save him because his mom didn't believe. Like, that prayer is still, and that, that acceptance of Jesus is still the ticket of salvation. That's right. So, I think, I think a lot of times people, we always make the mistake, myself included, we jump to salvation. The special favor does not necessarily mean, okay, you're saved, right?
You guys aren't saved. Yeah, it's just the special favor, like Psalm 103, verse 17. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him. And his righteousness to children's children. Means even those who haven't been born, because Granddaddy walked with God, was a man of prayer, was dedicated to following Jesus Christ and obeying His Word.
The grandchildren who haven't been born yet, Will reap the blessings. Like my grandfather, on my mom's side, I'm talking about, because on my dad's side. They didn't believe in Christ. That's right. But on my mom's side, Thomas Franklin.
He was a man of God. He was a lay pastor. He was the one who wrote to the seminary asking for a pastor to come, To the church, that he was doing his level best to keep it going. And He I I have it I have the letter. that he wrote.
Wow.
Yeah, I have the letter. And because all that was given, and I think I've shown you, Ryan, that letter. in my office And My dad came to the church. You know, God led him there. And then he became good friends with this man, and thereon he ended up marrying his daughter.
That was my mom. But this man, Thomas Franklin, died I would say maybe a year before I was born. He passed away was an accident. And he he hit his head and he passed away because of that a few few months later. And so You know, I think about it.
I never got a chance to meet him. But because he was faithful to God, Because He tried to lead his family follow Jesus Christ. One of the reasons I'm blessed today is because of his obedience. And there's another scripture here, 2 Samuel 12, 23. This is David speaking.
He said, but now he is dead. Remember, David. committed this horrible sin with Bathsheba committed adultery. had her husband killed, and then had a child. And because of this, God Put his judgment.
His discipline, I would say, on David and the child died. David mourned and grieved. He fasted and sat before God. Praying for the child to get better. When the child did not get better, but in fact died and they brought him the news.
David just Got up? And he said, Okay. It's over. And they're like, wait, what?
So quickly? And his response is, but now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him.
But he shall not return to me.
Well, where is David going to go? David's going to go to heaven when he dies. What is the guarantee, David, that you're going to see your son in heaven?
Well, because I am righteous before God. Of course, I messed up, but I repented before God and I'm waiting for one day someone is coming from my generation Through my lineage. Who is going to give his life for me? And I'm trusting in that someone who is, even though my son. Right.
But he's going to be my Saviour. I believe that my children are also going to be in heaven. It's a beautiful picture of how generationally, you know, people can reject God. You can have these families and these people groups, cultures who, for generations, have turned their back on the truth of God. But just like that, you can have generationally God's special favor extended to the children of believers.
That doesn't mean that they're not responsible for their own choice of salvation, but it does mean, you know, this special measure of God's grace extended to this family as a result of the parents' faithfulness. That's right. That special favor is going to put you in the circumstances of life to where you're going to be exposed to the gospel, to where you're going to have an open mind and an open heart because of the faith of your parents. Because it doesn't mean, like, oh, well, because mama was saved or granddaddy was saved, everybody's getting to heaven. No, but God is going to use that special favor to.
I guess circumvent some of the things that would have taken you away from him. Yeah. Some of the things that would have hardened your heart to the gospel of Jesus. Your walk with Jesus. has far more Significance than you realize.
That's right. It does not end with you. It goes on for generations to come until Jesus comes. If Jesus comes tonight, great, we're ready to go. But if he doesn't come for another 500 years, I want every one of those who will claim me as.
some man somewhere way back who Follow Jesus Christ. If they claim me, I'm hoping and praying that my obedience and my faithfulness to obey Christ and obey His Word. Will help them also to one day make their own decision to follow Christ. I don't want to do anything. To be unrighteous before God.
I don't want to do anything that would impede. the grace of God from coming to them. Yeah. Again, I can't tell you what happens to lost people's children. I'm trusting God's grace for that.
I can only talk about saved people's children and grandchildren. I want to be such a person. That would make sure that the gospel stays in our family. And not a single one would be lost. That's right.
And, Dr. Shaw, just like your dad did for your family, you who are listening at home, maybe you didn't grow up in a family who believes, maybe you didn't grow up around Christianity, but you yourself have found this broadcast. You found this episode. You've been following along with Clearview Today Show. You can become that chainbreaker in your family's history.
You can begin that legacy of faith for those children, grandchildren, and all of those descendants who will come after you. That's right. Dr. Shaw, if someone is listening right now and they're saying, I want to be, I want to be that chainbreaker. I want to be that first person.
It's going to begin with me today in the two or three minutes we've got left on the show. How do they do that? Do it right now. Do not wait till next week, next month. You have no guarantee.
You may die in your sins. If you've never given your heart to Jesus Christ, You are making no provision for those coming behind you to follow Jesus Christ. What if you have only one week left? What if you have only 24 hours left? What if tomorrow morning?
will be your last morning on the earth. But if right now You will give your heart to Jesus Christ. It will not only give you Forgiveness from God? Heaven everlasting? but it will also ensure that God's favour Well Remain upon your children and your grandchildren.
Maybe even You know your children, maybe you know your grandchildren, but maybe Some of you don't because they're not here yet. But there will be one day, right? Your grandchildren.
So. Here's the simple prayer that says, Jesus, come into my life. Forgive me of my sins and take over. I fully trust you. that you are God's Son who died on the cross for my sins.
Come into my life and be my Savior and be my King. And I will follow you from this day on. Thank you for saving me. And God, in advance, I pray that you will save. My family as well.
That's right. Amen. And if you prayed that prayer for the first time today, we want to rejoice with you and we want to help you take those next steps. Reach out to us here at the Clearview Today show and let us know that you prayed that prayer and we'll send you some resources and send you some guidelines for what you can do now to become that chainbreaker and to set up that legacy of faith for you and for your family. That's right.
We hope this show is beneficial for you. You know, we call it Clearview Today because we want to give you clarity. And hopefully today has given you a lot of clarity. If it hasn't, go ahead and text us 252-429-6069 and we're going to address it. We're going to talk about anything that you want to talk about.
Answer any questions that you have because we truly believe God is using this show to touch your life. That's right. We love you guys. We'll see you tomorrow on Clearview Today.
