Can a Protestant Marry a Catholic?

Should a Protestant Christian Maria Catholic. That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity will hi there this is Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer 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. You can also post a question on her Facebook, Instagram or twitter accounts. You can watch us live on YouTube and send us a message. That way, and you can email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com hey Bill, I wanted to open it up.

Today's broadcasts are piggybacking off of something that we discussed at the opening of yesterday show. We got an excellent phone call from a brother named Mike and I get a question that I know a lot of people have. He was asking about how you know there are some passages of Scripture to talk about God choosing individuals for salvation went to Ephesians chapter 1 mentioned Romans chapter 9 but then you also have other passages of Scripture that did make it sound like God wills all people to be saved and so it seems like there's this contradiction that we find in the Bible and his wishes and how do we deal with that. We went into but I honestly because I know it's it's such an important topic and it's a question that many people have. I wanted to follow-up some more and look at a passage in first Timothy chapter 2 worker. Paul tells Timothy what God wants you to be praying for all people and he says in verse three. This is good and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now if that's true, and yet other passages of Scripture like Ephesians 1 are true, where Paul says very clearly to the church at Ephesus is writing to believers and he says God chose you in Jesus before the foundation of the world you were predestined in love to adoption as sons.

How can these two things be reconciled and I want to touch on just how a number of I think great theologians of talk about this throughout the history of the church, St. Augustine, for example, writing many many years ago he wrestled with a lot of these questions about God's sovereignty and the human will.

He said while passage like this is referring to the fact that God wills all to be saved to actually are saved.

That's one way of looking at it another way of looking at this is that it's talking in particular about God willing all people to be saved, without distinction, but not all, without exception. So, for example, all different kinds of people in earlier in first Timothy two. It does seem like the apostle Paul is talking about different kinds of people.

Verse two kings and all who are in the high positions you know you he's talking about earthly rulers that kind of thing there there still others and in this section. Interesting way of looking at there's a guy named John of Damascus. Another great theologian and church father who said look God wills. In one sense you know all people to be saved. He says antecedent bully, but consequently, he may not will all people to be safe.

So, for example, you know, a judge may will the life of all people, but not for particular individuals who have been condemned and said she wanted to know that others are a number of ways that that really brilliant theologians throughout the history of the church have have sought to deal with this is not a contradiction. You know, it's what the Scripture clearly teach that God does choose people for salvation. Yet we know that as he's revealed his will to us in his word. Wills all people to be saved.

That, of course, as I as I just explained their different ways of looking at that, but one other thing Bill that I would want to say is we have God's revealed will we know what he's revealed to us through his law through the holy Scriptures, but you also have God's decree again in Ephesians chapter 1 it says that God calls all things to work together after the counsel of his will. There's nothing that happens in the history of humanity outside of God's decree. So in one sense, everything happens as a result of God's decree and yet, not necessarily directly, as it were getting into some really deep theology here, but I just so appreciated the question that we got from Mike that I wanted to to follow-up and I hope you listening right now grateful for. For all of you who listen in and give us calls and and I do give us a call today 833-843-2673 there was a great question from Mike, and I think a lot of people struggle with the whole fairness issue. They say well if God is just and God is loving. How could he possibly exclude some people from eternity with him. So how would you respond to that. Yeah I did mention this briefly yesterday is just the reality that when we think about justice and we have to don't want justice. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. God is gave us what we deserved in the wages of sin is death.

What we need is mercy what we want is mercies of God is not obligated to save anyone.

And yet he sent his son into the world to call all people everywhere to repentance and faith than he does. He does safe people by his grace, and so we rejoice in that. I meant this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez.

If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life. Our phone lines will be open for the next 20 minutes or so, so hop on the phone right now. 833. The core 833 the core which translates into 833-843-2673 let's go to Joel in Ontario, Canada. Joe what your question for pastor a drill radio. Thank you for your program. I really appreciate you being on the air announcing a question question that I have today for you is how do I explain the true gospel to a friend who is charismatic and believe in the prospect gospel, especially at this time since he is tested: positive and he is sick and yet so sensitive time for him.

So the approach this issue and relationship we have housemates so yeah well July. I definitely want to say a prayer for for your friend is… Do that right now.

Father we live close friend up to use sick with COBIT right now.

We ask for his healing. We also pray Lord above all else that you would open his heart to understand the true gospel of your son Jesus. Father, we know that there are many people in the world today who have been captivated by other Gospels, false Gospels, Gospels that are Gospels at all like the prosperity gospel movement would you do a mighty work in this in this man's life Jesus Joel to be able to speak the truth in love, and would you give our brother Joel wisdom as he seeks to share the message of salvation the message of Christ, the true gospel with his housemate. Would you be with him and grant him gratis all Lord God, your wisdom, he adjusts it well.

In one sense, one of the things that your friend should be saying is, is just how bankrupt the prosperity gospel is especially in this moment as he suffering with something like the COBIT 19 pandemic that the prosperity gospel promises people health, wealth and riches not meet all sorts of earthly blessings, but what it doesn't do is talk about sin and repentance and justification really the focus of the true gospel, the forgiveness of sins. That's that's brushed under the rug and people are promised.

All of these things that just ultimately, God never promised us and maybe this will be an open door for you in your discussions with them just to be able to say look, friend.

We do experience suffering as Christians.

Jesus made it absolutely clear in John chapter 16 before he left his disciples in this world you will have tribulation. Look at the lives of the apostles. They experience suffering sickness. All of these things Timothy had frequent stomach ailments.

He was Paul's son in the faith. And yet Paul doesn't say your name and claim your healing, but instead ask he doesn't take a little bit of wine to help him settle his stomach that the reality is is is just no evidence for that the teaching of the prosperity gospel movement in holy Scripture.

They've twisted God's word and so what you want to help your friend to see is the true gospel and and and focusing primarily on the fact that one look work were going to get sick. Working at work in us suffer in our lives as believers, God and promised us up but an easy life, necessarily, no, not at all on this world you will have tribulation, but here's what he did promise to you and to your friend Joel. He promised the forgiveness of sins through the blood of his son Jesus. And that's where you have to focus you have to focus on what the good news actually isn't. And the good news is better than God is going to give you house and health and all these other things know that's not the good news of the gospel that sexy not good enough. The good news is all of your sins can be freely forgiven through Jesus Christ not on the basis of what you've done. Not not your works done in righteousness, but through Jesus himself and maybe right now in the midst of your housemates suffering. He will be will be more open to that message Joel, I would encourage you to pray for him. That's the main thing we know that the spirit of God is the one who opens hearts to receive the gospel.

Pray for him begin praying now that the Lord would would open his heart and pray for wisdom as you speak to him and then go straight to Jesus and to his work straight to the cross and the promise of the forgiveness of sins. That's what were promised by faith in Jesus. Not an easy life and your friend is experiencing that right now as he suffers with Coburn. I pray that the Lord brings him healing and gives you wisdom or as you as you seek to have this discussion with him. Thanks for your cultural Joel thanks so much and thank you for being a regular listener there in Canada. We really appreciate you being part of the core Christianity family. If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life.

Now is the time to call the number is 833 the core.

We should remind you that some radio stations air our program on a delayed basis. So if you're listening to this later in the day or in the evening we should let you know the time to call into the studio live is 11:30 AM Pacific time, which translates in the 1230 Mountain 130 Central or 230 Eastern time for that 30 minute. You can call actually right in the studio and talk to pastor a drill, let's go to John in St. Louis, Missouri.

John what your question, I heard all my question is about the concerns.

Proverbs 16 nine in their hearts. You plan your course but the Lord establishes.

I just looking for a better perspective, I never know if I'm actually in the will of God, or if I'm pending on myself permission. I myself in conflict and I'm just looking for an explanation or better perspective than on unmet hey bro, thank you for your encouragement John John Proverbs 16 verse nine the heart of man plans his way with the Lord establishes his steps uniting with the psalmist says, unless the Lord builds the house, those who build labor in vain unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain and we really right here. What were getting in this in this wisdom literature is a call to humble ourselves and to recognize with all of our planning all of our ideas for the future. Really, it's God. It's God who establishes the steps and so we should look to him in humility and I think another passage that you can go to that that I would say the sort of parallels and in one sense, we see there in Proverbs chapter 16 verse nine is an expectation that we see in the book of James and James chapter 4. As James talks about people who are planning their ways irrespective of God and his will. James says James chapter 4 verse 13. Come now, you who say today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit. Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring.

What is your life for you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say if the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that to the call to humility there. Look for nothing wrong with planning for the future and saying they would like to go do this that and the other what were making plans for for what's to come.

Working to save some money. That kind of a thing.

But we have to have this attitude of humility in recognizing that it's the Lord who establishes our way and so we come before him and say, God, if you will guide me, lead me now ain't in terms of deciphering the will of God for your life. There are two ways we can look at this one. John, you do know God's will. It's revealed to you in holy Scripture ultimately summarized in his law, how God calls us to live. That's we see God's revealed will.

There are also a number of passages in the New Testament is very clearly talk about the will of God. God's will is our sanctification.

For example, Paul told the Thessalonians that we would is what we water should abstain from sexual immorality. God's will is that we would rejoice always, that we would pray without ceasing God's will is that we follow him that we love him and that we love our neighbor as ourselves that something that God is revealed to you and so as you pursue those things by the grace of the Holy Spirit you can know that you are in the will of God. And as you think about life decisions. You know, do we move here or there. They know where do I go to college.

That kind of thing. Whatever those decisions are. We don't really have a clear Scripture that we can point to which it is you say Lord I'm following I'm trusting you my main desire is to please you and I making plans, but I know God that you are the one who establishes my steps. So there's an attitude of humility there that that's what were called to trusting that God is the one who establishes our steps even as we make plans and looking to him and knowing that if things don't work out the way we had hoped that that assuming that you know it was you know we were outside of God's will is applicable to goddesses can continue to lead us through these no providential circumstances and so I hope that God gives you peace, John is you think about living your own life and honoring him and again, let me just reiterate you. You do based on what Scripture says you know what God's will is for you to love him and to follow him and as you as you seek to do that.

You're in the right place it or how would you respond when you hear some Christian leaders and pastors. Some churches talk about you know there's only one particular will for you as far as who was to marry or what job to take her as you mention what college to go to. You gotta discern that particular will, I would just say be careful with anybody who comes to you and says you know it, ladies, if a guy comes to you and says God told me it's his will for you to marry me. I would say don't believe it. That's that's beside the there are other candy abuses very serious abuses and that's why we were talking about the will of God. Specifically, we want we want to talk what is revealed will. What is expressed to us in Scripture. In his holy revelation and that we pursue that and when we do that is as poorly as we do it because we all sit and fail and fall short. But as we do that we can know and trust that were walking in the will of God. You're listening to core Christianity with pastor Averill Sanchez you have kids we want to let you know about a wonderful book that we have available that will help you answer some of the questions they may have about the Christian faith. Yeah, I think apologetics for kids is a really really important.

We need to help prepare our children to to live in a world that's oftentimes hostile to Christianity. How do we know that Christianity is really true this book by Chris Moore few. It's written for ages 9 to 13 am and is a wonderful book that will introduce you, your children, your grandchildren, even to some of these really important questions that they're going to be asking and that that the world wants answers to, and it is so crucial that we begin helping to to fortify their faith. At this very young age, and so get a hold of this resource again. The book is called how do we know that Christianity is really true will give that to your for donation of any amount@corechristianity.com/offers that's core Christianity.com/offers do. How do we know that Christianity is really true wonderful book for families to get and read together this summer. You can also call us for that offer or any one of our offers at 833-843-2673 that's a 33. The core let's go to a voicemail received from one of her callers earlier this week.

Where you want to get married Like what happened. That doesn't believe in the Catholic religion of late. Yes, thank you for for that question and one it's very practical, very relevant. I know that there are people who want to be married with her what he will do I marry someone from a different church, a different denomination. Is that okay in Scripture. In first Corinthians chapter 7 the apostle Paul makes it very clear in verse 39 that were only to marry in the Lord. That is, people who are in Jesus Christ. They believe in Jesus, their faith in Jesus and so were not to marry or I would say pursue marriage relationships with people who are outside of the faith. There's nothing more important than what you or the person you. Mary says about Jesus what you believe about Christ and if you want to raise a family in the Lord, you need to be pursuing people who are in Christ. There is also another passage of Scripture in second Corinthians in second with in chapter 6 where the apostle Paul says in verse 14 do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership is righteousness with lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness. What a court has Christ with the Lyle what portion does the believer share with an unbeliever there I think again talking about relationships and in particular those intimate relationships in it and Paul's reiterating don't have those kinds of relationships marriage relationship with someone who is not a believer. Now I am personally a Protestant Christian I believe in the. The core tenets of the Protestant Reformation and and we know those passages that I brought up I don't want you to think that what what I'm saying is someone who's a Roman Catholic can't really truly be united to Jesus Christ by faith. There are, I believe many Catholics who have a saving relationship with Jesus and there are many Protestants I think were in Protestant churches who haven't laid hold of Jesus Christ by faith. And yet when it comes to to your question here.

I would say really perk for two reasons for for wisdom reasons and theological reasons.

It's not wise for Protestants and Catholics to marry just wisdom wising you have to think about how you raise our family where we can go to church is my wife or husband to go to one church in Anaheim to go to a different church so that were not able to sort of cultivate our relationship with the Lord together as a family where we can raise our kids what what church are they going to be in. Those are really, really big and really really important questions. It's hard to be fully engaged in a church if you're not a member of a church and if your spouse is going somewhere else. If you're sort of going back and forth that kind of the thing is, I think that is not wise that's not helpful so I would say don't pursue that. But then in terms of the theological rationale.

There are significant theological differences between Roman Catholics and Protestants. This is why it was Reformation in in the medieval church and so it's important that we understand what those differences are. We oftentimes talk about those kinds of differences here on this broadcast. We were talking about core Christianity were talking about what the gospel is the distinction between the law and the gospel.

What God requires of us in order to be saved. Another questions. Oftentimes it Protestants and Catholics answered differently and so I am not saying that you know you you can't be a Christian if you're Roman Catholic, but I am saying is, in terms of pursuing marriage relationships. I think it's not the not the wisest of the UB want to work through prior to getting married and so thank you for that question.

This is core Christianity with pastor Averill Sanchez. Let's go to sailor in Oklahoma City sailor what your question for pastor. Israel may question how would you handle question.

I think turn into after talk again last night Carl Heller after the game, Lord to come talking and he cannot question was asked and are you Christian, and she very proudly, no, no, no, and I'm not affiliate with any religion and almost immediately I thought no, and I was overcome with fear as I thought I should've said something ask a question she made a comment, know how you would address situations like that are happening better. I will be her next week. That question come up again, but I am learning more more about the truth… Compelled to say something or ask a question afraid of being distinctive and I felt like motors at that link now coming out saying he thinks I didn't feel bad. I think the Holy Spirit convicted me that, compared to situations like that, learning everything all day until I feel better prepared to actually start that conversation will see like God bless you and you're not alone. I've been in situations like that as well where I felt like somebody said something.

It was a sort of perfect set up for me to be able to share the gospel and I totally blew it and I walked away from the situation. The Lord forgive me because you know there are opportunities that God gives us in and were struggling with shame or fear or not wanting to offend, and we pray for boldness and that reality is something the disciples of our Lord Jesus also had to pray for next chapter for you have the disciples of the risen Christ praying and asking God for boldness so slippery that the Lord gives you boldness and in a situation like that. It sounds like this woman wasn't probably even interested in having a conversation about religions as she kind of proudly or arrogantly said I don't have any religion can we think and I think that's what where maybe some helpful questions could come in like what will why not her know we raised a certain way and you decided to turn away from you. Asking questions can begin to create a a context in which you can have more fruitful gospel conversations. I don't think it would've been helpful to just know so to jump in and say oh you fool you should have a religion and it should be Christianity that kind of thing.

I know you would you would never do that but we want to find out more about what where she's coming from a sound like this was obviously something that that she felt strongly about and I think you could ask why. And as you do that that opens the door begins to open the door for the the opportunity to share about the true faith about who Jesus is and what he said about light. The gospel is actually good news for all people. Jesus is coming to the world to forgive sinners that's good news and I appreciate you want to share it. Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us at core, Christianity.com and click on offers in the menu or call us at 1-833-843-2673. That's 833 when you contact us.

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