Looking Back at Holy Saturday, and Q&A

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Welcome to the Bible Answer Man broadcast with the president of the Christian Research Institute, Hank Hanagraph PERSON. Our mission is to equip you with answers, to share the hope that you have within you because life and truth matter. Why? Because being armed with truth will equip you to counter the corrosive worldviews at work in our world today. While experiencing the authentic Christian NORP life will make you a winsome witness of the purpose of life, which is to experience union with God and Christ, both for today and for all eternity. For more information about CRI and the Bible Answer Man WORK_OF_ART broadcast,our phone number is 8887,000 CRI. You can find us online at equip.org. The following program was pre-recorded. And now, here's Hank Hanagraph. Thank you very much, Randy PERSON. Do remember, as always,

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you can contact us via the mail at Box 8500, Charlotte, North Carolina, zip code 28271. And the resources that we talk about on the broadcast, you can, as always, find on the web at eqip.org ORG. I want to kick off the broadcast today by talking about Holy Saturday EVENT, something that we celebrated the day before yesterday, this past Saturday, at least in the Eastern Church ORG, we celebrated Lazarus PERSON Saturday first, the day that Christ raised his friend Lazarus from among the dead, and then a week later,the Saturday that I'm referring to, the Saturday following Holy Friday DATE, we're reminded that we, too, like Christ PERSON, will one day breathe our last. So for many decades of my life, the great sorrow of Christ PERSON's passion on the cross quickly gave way to, well, the inexpressible joy of Easter Sunday. And yet, without an appropriate emphasis on the great and the mysterious celebration of the Holy Saturday in between Christ PERSON's passion on the cross, or Good Friday, and Paska or Easter,we miss something very significant. Why? Because Holy Saturday EVENT marks one of the most enigmatic of all mysteries. This is the mystery of Christ PERSON's descent into Hades. Being put to death in the body, says Peter PERSON. He was made alive by the spirit through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah PERSON while the ark was being built. In it, only a few people, eight and all were saved through water. And this water, says the Apostle Peter PERSON, symbolizes baptism, which now saves you also.baptism, which now saves you also. Peter here is reminding us of two great and glorious truths. First, that you and I are saved through water, and secondly, that the descent of Christ PERSON into Hades inaugurates resplendent triumph, a triumph by which Christ PERSON tramples down death by death. First, after being buried in the waters of baptism, we arise to a radically rearranged life. We were buried with him through baptism into death in order that just as Christ PERSON was raised from the dead through the glory of theFather, so too we may live a new life, a life in which we are commissioned by Christ PERSON himself to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Ecumenical patriarch Bartholomew the first perhaps said it best when he said the church as a mystery of mutual Trinitarian NORP love is true to itself only if the circle of love is being constantly enlarged, only if new persons are continually being brought within it. Faith, faith in the triune God signifies that we are each of us missionaries dedicated to the preaching of the gospel.Well, as Holy Saturday EVENT reminded us that we were baptized into Christ's death in order that we may live a new life, so too, Holy Saturday EVENT is reminiscent of the resplendent triumph that is marked by Christ PERSON's descent into Hades, a triumph by which Christ trampels down death by death. His descent is at once one of the most mysterious and simultaneously one of the most marvelous occurrences in all of New Testament WORK_OF_ART history. An event that I freely confess I have tragically trivialized as a direct result of, well, inadequate comprehension. Little did I understandthat Christ's dissent is an inseparable part of the dogmatic tradition of the ancient church. It was shared by all members of the church. And this is reflected in the New Testament WORK_OF_ART. It's reflected in the works of the early Christian NORP apologistsof the fathers and the teachers of the church, of ancient and later writers of both the East and the West, as well as in the baptismal creeds, the Eucharistic Services ORG, and in the liturgical texts. Moreover, as has been fittingly noted, Christ's descent into Hades is referred to more than 50 times, 50 times during the services of Holy Friday and Holy Saturday EVENT, more than 200 times during the festal period that we call Pentecost,and more than 150 times in the resurrectional and festal hymns over the course of a whole year. Hems that we sing in parts such as, O Day of Resurrection, let us beam with God's own pride. Let everyone embrace in joy. Let us warmly greet those we meet and treat them like our brothers, even those who hate us. But all the earth resound with this song, Christ PERSON is risen from the dead, conquering death by death.And on those in the grave, bestowing life. in the grave bestowing life. In the words of the extraordinary polymath and golden speaker, John Demasin PERSON, through his descent into hell, Christ PERSON opened the way to paradise for all and calls all to salvation. For some Christ PERSON's preaching led to salvation, well, for others it only exposed their unbelief.And adds the venerable John Chrysostom PERSON, this call is not coercive or forcible. Everyone is called, but not all follow the call. For in the mercy of God, there are no obstacles other in the free will of humankind. Christ PERSON is sent into Hades marks a quintessential historical turning point. Hades is no longer a place of oblivion and abandonment, but it is a place filled with the radiance of Christ PERSON's loving presence.A love that torments sinners, just as it intoxicates those destined for salvation. Holy Saturday EVENT iconography is rife with meaning, none more so than the traditional icon which portrays Christ PERSON, radiant in hues of white and blue, standing on the devastated gates of Hades LOC. With arms outstretched, he joins hands with Adam and all other Old Testament WORK_OF_ART righteous encountered there.With one arm he unfettered Adam PERSON with the other, he liberates the righteous. As wondrously communicated in the Vesperal Liturgy of Holy Saturday, today Hades LOC cries out groaning. I should not have accepted the man born of Mary PERSON. He came and destroyed my power. He shattered the gates of brass. As God he raised the souls I held captive.Glory to thy cross. Glory to thy resurrection. Oh, Lord. Holy Saturday EVENT. We'll be back in just a few moments with answers to your questions, and my thanks for all of you who stand shoulder to shoulder with me in the battle for life and truth. Every Bible Answerman NORP broadcast,

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such as the one you're listening to right now, is made possible through the financial support of friends like you. Each month, we depend entirely on God's provision through His people to bring you more of the broadcast, podcast, and other resources you rely on. If you want a sound proclamation and defense of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to continue to be heard through the out and defense of the Gospel of Jesus Christ WORK_OF_ART to continueto be heard through the outreaches of the Christian Research Institute ORG, become a member of CRI's support team today. Call 8887,000 CRI and stand with CRI daily in the battle for life and truth. That's 888 7,000 CRI, or visit our website at eQuip.org. We'll return shortly with more from Hank Hanagraph PERSON.

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Dr. Even Alexander's wildly popular near-death experience book, Proof of Heaven WORK_OF_ART,

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assures us that no matter what we do in this life, only unconditional love and joy await us in the world to come. But our Lord warned that while the gate to hell is wide, the road to it broad and those who enter through it are many, the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who enter through it are many. The gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life and those who find it are few. Your generous support lets Hank Hanagraph PERSON and CRI speak out against the lies that lead to hell. In appreciation for your gift today, we'll rush you Hank's book, After Life, What You Need to Know WORK_OF_ART about heaven, the Hereafter,and Near Death experiences, filled with answers to your questions about life after death. Call 8887,000 CRI or visit EQUIP.org now. Again, that's EQUIP.org. When you need answers about the Bible WORK_OF_ART and the intersection of our faith and culture, you turn to the Bible Answer Man broadcast and the Christian Research Institute ORG. But did you know we're entirely supported by God's provision through friends like you?In appreciation for your gift of ministry support today, we'll send you Hank's book, The Third Day WORK_OF_ART, a convincing case study on the most important truth of Christianity, the resurrection of Jesus Christ PERSON. Johnny Erickson Tata has said, Hank PERSON leaves no stone unturned, thoroughly portraying the resurrection as our grand hope, the glorious springboard from which we all dive into eternity.Strengthen your defense of the resurrection and increase your confidence in your own eternal future. Call 888 7,000 CRI or visit EQUIP.org now. The number of wolves surrounding the Christian NORP flock is growing, and they relish nothing more than docile sheep utterly incapable of defending themselves. From militant secularists at home to militant Islamists abroad, the assaults on biblical Christianity ORG are growing dangerously. But Christian Research Institute ORG support team members aren't in favor of feeding these wolves. support team members aren't in favor of feeding these wolves. Instead, each day they're making possible an array of outreaches that defang these wolf packswith solid arguments and evidence that have stood the test of time. What's more, support team members are equipping themselves with CRIs equipping essentials, a hand-picked collection of the best apologetics tools around. Your selection of resources are just our way of saying thanks. To learn more about the benefits of membership, simply visit equip.org ORG. Once again, that's equip.org.Now back to the Bible Answer Man broadcast and your host, Ancannograph ORG.

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Thank you very much, Randy PERSON, and let's go to our callers. First up is Deborah in Stony Plain, Alberta GPE. Hi, Deborah PERSON. Hello.

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My question is, when a person gets baptized, do they become a new creation right away? Or does God slowly work in your life over time?

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Well, that's a really good question, actually. When you are baptized, you are enlightened by the Holy Spirit. You take up your cross and you daily follow

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Jesus Christ PERSON. And then your growth is a transformational growth that stretches from one glory to another.

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In other words, that growth is something that develops over time, just as relationships in general develop over time. But when you are baptized, a beautiful thing happens. You know, Paul PERSON says in sort of a query form, he says, don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus PERSON were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that just as Christwas raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. So yes, we are new creations living a new life. So in the new covenant, we see baptism as the means by which we enter the kingdom of God, a means by which, as I just mentioned, we're joined to Christ and we are granted the remission of our sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. And our first dying with Christ PERSON in baptism, being buried with Christ in baptism, was our death with Himon the cross. And of course, there's a second death. And that second death is what I'm alluding to. It's continual. It's dying to sin daily as we walk in newness of life. It is our being joined to Christ PERSON in his glorified humanity and indwelt by God himself.So we're raised to new life for a purpose, and that purpose is union and communion with God. And in that sense, baptism is the beginning of eternal life. And Peter PERSON writes about this baptism when he says, baptism now saves us. It is not the mere removal of dirt from our bodies, but provides us with a good conscience towards God. In other words, through baptism, we become new creations in Christ PERSON.

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Okay, because I am struggling. Like, before I got baptized, like I felt like I was, like demonic activity was working in me. Like voodoo and black and white magic were used on me. And then I got baptized, and I feel like it's the same thing's happening.

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Well, remember that baptism is not a magic ritual. It is the way in which you are enlightened, but you enter into the community of faith, and it's in the community of faith that you are taught. In the ancient church, many people before they were baptized would be under a serious time of study and contemplation, and then they would be baptized.So they go into the church with an understanding of what this enlightenment represents. But baptism is never a lone ranger activity. It's always something that is done in the context of entering into the body of Christ. And then once you enter the body of Christ, baptism is added to by chrismation, chrismation being the empowerment that comes from the Holy Spirit. And that chrismation then gives way to something that happens on an ongoing basis, and that is the receiving of the energies of God.And the receiving of the energies of God comes through the graces that are bestowed on you in the context of the Eucharistic assembly that is the church. So you partake of the Eucharist and the Eucharist doesn't give you biological energy, but it gives you zoetic energy. It gives you spiritually powerful energy that is transformative in your life. So again, all of this happens within the context of the body of Christ PERSON, a healthy, well-balanced church. Let's go back to the phone lines.Talk to Robert in Tallahassee, Florida GPE. Hi, Robert PERSON. Hey, Hank PERSON.

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Yes, I have two questions for you. One of them should be pretty simple to answer, but the other one I've struggled with for some time, and that is, I know that we are saved through faith alone, but I was wondering what provision does the Bible make for, like, very young children or even adults that don't have the mental capacity to believe in Christ PERSON or accept Christ PERSON as their Savior. Yeah.

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Well, you know, there are a couple of ways of answering that, but one of the ways of answering that question has to do with what I was talking about in the first part of the broadcast today. When you are relieved of your body, the impairments that come in a fallen world, when you die, you are still alive spiritually. And in the passage that I was talking about earlier today, Christ PERSON during his earthly sojourn, ministered to people, but he also proclaimedthe gospel, as Peter PERSON puts it, between his death and his resurrection. And people can respond as Adam PERSON such that they are taken from Hades to the throne room of God, as it were, from the place of torment to the place of bliss depicted in Luke chapter 16 as Abram PERSON's bosom. And the early church was quite unanimous in believing that this message of salvation is proclaimed to all. So the one thing we know, however this is parsed, is that God is absolutely just. God is absolutely merciful, and therefore we can reliably trust that God would never reject anyone that sincerelywanted to follow him and was incapacitated in some way. And as I've said many times in this broadcast, it's not the absence of truth that dams. It's always the despising of truth that dams. Let's go back to the phone lines. Talk to Paul in San Diego GPE,

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California. Hi, Paul. How are you today? I'm doing good. I got an interesting question for you.

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About a year ago, I bought a pendant, and it was a cross, and I have a very, very close relationship with God.

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And when I bought it, I saw it, and I liked it. I liked it a lot. But I was aware that the stones were manmade. But it really didn't matter. However, not really thinking about it, I showered with it regularly and it has discolored the stones dramatically.And it's gone from appearance-wise to where people would compliment it on it because it was so nice in appearance to where now it's got to go. There's no way to fix it. And so I went ahead and bought a new cross, and I really like it. I waited so I found one that I really liked as Jesus PERSON right on it. And then lo and behold, now that it's time to throw out the other cross,in my relationship with God, I realized, I already knew it, but it really hit home. How much this cross mattered to me? I can't give it to anybody because the discoloration of it. It's of no use to anybody. Well, I get to answer your question really

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quickly because I'm out of time, but I think it's a lot of views to you because it has a tremendous meaning that has accumulated over the process of time.

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And sometimes the cliche applies, beauteous in the eyes of the beholder, that cross is obviously transcendently meaningful to you and therefore very beautiful to you as well.

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So whereas people may not compliment you on that cross, you can look at that cross and know its significance in your life over time. And don't forget that the early church made the sign of the cross over themselves as a way of identifying themselves with the Lord and Jesus Christ PERSON. We're out of time for this edition of the Bible Answer Man WORK_OF_ART broadcast. Be right back here Tuesday with more of the show.Look forward to that.

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Thank you for joining us for the Bible Answer Man WORK_OF_ART broadcast. In today's post-truth culture of confusion, the Christian Research Institute ORG exists to equip listeners like you with answers to communicate the gospel of hope to a world in desperate need of life and truth, because life and truth matter. In addition to truth, we want to equip you with life, not simply to know about God, but truly to know Him. Experiencing union with Christ PERSON enables us to live life not merely by our ownenergy, but with the energy of the Lord Jesus working powerfully through us. For more information, call 8887,000 CRI. That's 888 7,000 CRI. That's 888 7,000 CRI. You can also write CRI at Post Office Box 8500, Charlotte, North Carolina, 28271, or just visit us online at equip.org ORG. That's equip.org. The Bible Answerman NORP broadcast is funded by listeners likeyou. We're on the air because life and truth matter. Dr. Even Alexander's wildly popular near-death experience book, Proof of Heaven WORK_OF_ART, assures us that no matter what we do in this life, only unconditional love and joy await us in the world to come. But our Lord warned that while the gate to hell is wide, the road to it broad and those who enter through it are many, the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who enter through it are many. The gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life and those who find it are few. Your generous support lets Hank Hanagraph PERSON andCRI speak out against the lies that lead to hell. In appreciation for your gift today, we'll rush you Hank's book, After Life, What You Need to Know about heaven WORK_OF_ART, the Hereafter, and Near Death experiences filled with answers to your questions about life after death. Call 8887,000 CRI, or visit equip.org ORG now. Again, that's equip.org ORG.