Is My Roman Catholic Baptism Valid?

I grew up Catholic and I'm now a Protestant is my Roman Catholic baptism valid.

That is one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity hi 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 this right now with your question.

At 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 also post your question on one of our social media sites you can watch a drill right now live on YouTube and message just through our YouTube channel course you can always email us your question at questions@corechristianity.com burst up today let's go to a voicemail we received from one of our callers named Greg how have a spiritual relationship with spiritual. You can't hear you relate you read the Bible and pray.

I know my prayers. But how do you do that with these invisible.

You can't touch it can hear little people say they hear men doing really here, that's my question to Greg thinks of that question.

You know when Jesus is on earth with his disciples. Obviously they had a very close relationship. They loved him they got to see him perform miracles experience even his healing power and then one day Jesus told his disciples he was leaving and obviously they were devastated. You know what's gonna happen.

Lord, hear your you're taken off with me. This is describing Jesus's upper room discourse in the Gospel of John, beginning in John 13 all the way to John 17 and Jesus said, look up I'm leaving but I'm going to send to you the Holy Spirit I'm not going to leave you as orphans and so even though God is invisible. Even though Jesus is not physically present here on earth right now. He ascended into heaven is at the right hand of the father, we can still have this closeness.

This relationship with him personal relationship with him through the power of the Holy Spirit.

And that's why Greg Peter said when he wrote in first Peter chapter 1 verse eight he says though you have not seen him, you love him, though you do not now see him you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. And so we have a personal relationship with God, with Jesus by faith in the spirit of God unites us to Jesus so that we might experience his presence. Even here and now and that that could be a sort of tangible feeling but but it's even more than that it's it's based on God's promise and the promise that we find in his word, and so one of the ways we get to know God better and understand who he is and experience his power and presence in our lives is through the word, we study the Scriptures we also gather together with other believers. I think that's really really important. And this is one of the ways we experience the presence of God here on earth today is through his people.

The body of Christ brothers and sisters in Christ were filled with the Holy Spirit who God uses in our lives to build us up. I think of what John said in first John chapter 4 verse 12. No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. It's it's almost as if John is suggesting their Greg look, we can't see God.

But when we love each other as the body of Christ. God is manifesting his presence in our midst. It's as if work were able to see his working here and now and experience his mercy, his grace, and so you can we can have a very personal very close relationship with the true and the living God through his son Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit, we come to him in faith, we grow in our understanding of who he is, through the word and I would say I dig into the Scriptures. Open them up and pray to the Lord asking that God would give you understanding and then become a part of a Christian community. The body of Christ where you can. There through others brothers and sisters in the Lord experience his love, his goodness, his care in a tangible way and so those are all things that I would point to, and I appreciate your question brother may God bless you Greg Greg, thanks so much for committing up to growing in faith and thanks for your question. Your core Christianity let's go to Tim who is calling in from Lincoln, Nebraska Tim, welcome to the program.

What is your question for Pastor Israel will. My question is correct and the true believer like I have to go through the great white throne judgment hey Tim, thank you for that question. There are some who say the great white throne judgment is only for nonbelievers that Christians are not going to going to be judged on that day and I don't think that that's true, it seems to me like whenever the New Testament talks about the judgment of God. The judgment seat of the Lord that were all there were all going to stand before God includes everyone. If you can ask chapter 17 verse 31 Paul's speech to the people. It is the Areopagus and also in second Corinthians chapter 5 verse 10 again pulses we must all stand before the judgment seat of God. And so that's not just non-Christians. That's also believers. Then you have descriptions of that that that event in places like the book of Revelation.

Revelation chapter 20 of verse 11 then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne and the books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life and that's of course where believers have their names written in the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done in the sea gave up the dead who were in it, death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them and they were judged, each one of them according to what they had done so. This seems like it's all encompassing this in just one group of people. This is everyone who has ever lived on planet Earth. But here's here's the good news for believers, we can have confidence on the day of judgment. Why, because of the love of God for us, and because of the judgment that Jesus Christ endured on our behalf John who wrote the book of Revelation. Also, and in his first letter in first John chapter 4 verse 17 he talks about us having confidence for the day of judgment. He bases it on, ultimately God's love for his people we love because he first loved us.

But there's also another text. I think that's really helpful and frankly a great comfort to me when I think about the judgment seat and it's found in the Gospel of John. In John chapter 5 verse 24. Listen to what the Lord Jesus himself said, speaking of the judgment.

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life.

He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. That is to say, were not going to be condemned on that day were not come into judgment if you will. We've already passed from death to life through Jesus because work in him were united to him and so we can you can be confident on that day brother because of the work of Jesus Christ on your behalf. If you believe in him. Thank you for that question. Thanks for that! Israel this is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez and we thank you so much for listening.

Our phone number if you have a question for us is 833 the core that's 833-843-2673 now one of the things we want to mention is that school is starting up here in just a little bit and to coincide with that. We have a free resource would like to offer parents and grandparents today.

That's called six ways to help your kids as they go back to school and so just something to encourage you and to encourage your children or grandchildren as they ruffle through things like peer pressure, even just this a helpful resource in reminding parents about you know what was the most important thing for our kids to grasp for them to understand so many people today so many young people today are placing their identity. First and foremost in their performance that you know there but my measuring up in my doing enough is what we want you to to help. You want to help you to route your children or your grandchildren in. Ultimately, the truth of the gospel and the those things that will help them. Is there going to school, get a hold of this resource is called six ways to help your kids as they go back to school to free download. You can find it by going to core Christianity.com/offers look for six ways to help your kids as they go back to school. You can also call us about that resource for anyone of our resources at 833 the core that's a 33 843-2673 wears a voicemail we received from one of our listeners named Steve I was born and raised Catholic and was baptized as a baby, but most babies are.

And I'm wondering I've been told that I'm not saved until I go through another Christian baptism and I'm wondering is that true. Thank you. Well, this is a question that we received on the broadcast before and the first time I answered it was kind of interesting.

We got a lot of response and so maybe that the phone will start ringing off the hook right now is answer this one but. Here's the first thing I would say is what makes a baptism of baptism will first and foremost, it's the word and promise of God. That's what makes a baptism a baptism were you baptized in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit with water as Jesus himself instituted in baptism is, is the sacrament it's a holy mystery. It's one of the ways that God extends his grace to his people. His covenant promises to his people and so I would say you were baptized as a child, even in the Roman Catholic Church.

Now there are some who disagree with this or say why don't think that the Roman Catholic Church is a true church and therefore I don't know that I would accept that baptism, but I think in terms of understanding the doctrine of God. The doctrine of the holy Trinity baptizing in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit that's that's there in the Roman Catholic Church and so I would say that you are baptized, and you're called to live in light of that great reality and the promise of God that's extended to us at our baptism.

Listen to the promise of the gospel. Objectively something you're called to lay hold of. By faith, so it one thing that that's really problematic about whoever is suggesting this user seems like what they're doing is they're saying the baptism that you're about to have that Catholic baptism didn't save you, but the baptism that you're about to have is what's going to save you the Christian baptism were going to give you and so the problem is the object of your faith is not your baptism. It's not this the other baptism that they're trying to say you need to have the object of of your faith is Jesus Christ. And that's who. Baptism points us to in his death and resurrection. That's precisely what the apostle Paul said in a number of places like Romans chapter 6 and Galatians chapter 3 were baptized into the death and resurrection of Jesus. It's this sign in and seal of art in grafting into Jesus Christ as of the question is this is this is the million dollar question with regard to salvation is are you trusting in Jesus the one who your baptism points you to. That's where you need to trust don't know and trust in your baptism per se. Trusting Christ himself and your baptism points you to Jesus so that that's that's the important piece there, and if so I would say if you're going to my church and in you had been baptized in the Roman Catholic Church would make you you know go through that all over again will make you be baptized again for you. We are baptized. The promise of God is very real. The object, the promise of the gospel you lay hold of that by faith and you rest in Christ. Any in his work for you and so appreciate that question brother and and I trusted that clears it up. Douglas listening to core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez, just a reminder that we have a great group of people we want to say thank you to.

They are part of our inner core. They make this program possible with their ongoing gift of $25 or more a month means so much to us. It helps us to continue to spread the word and share the core tenets of the Christian faith on radio every day and through our podcast so if you'd like to join the inner core.

Learn more about that. Just go to our website@corechristianity.com. If you want to call us with your question about the Bible or the Christian life.

Here's the phone number it's 833. The core that's 1-833-843-2673 taking calls for the next 10 minutes or so, so hop on your phone right now and give us a buzz if you got a question for Pastor Israel.

Here's a voicemail we received from one of our listeners earlier this week and why hope and believing that the true Savior everyone is wrong because he feels that God took away how do you see that God is true Savior and open up our hurt how you get will boy you know this is this is an uncommon situation where someone experiences a great loss some some struggle some tragedy in their angry they're upset and so what II think first unit, you go to this person obviously sympathizing with with the pain that they're going through praying for them, encouraging them, but you also need to realize that you can't open another person's heart that's the work of the Holy Spirit, and so the first thing you need to do is pray and seek the face of God and say Lord there are walls up this person is hurt.

This person is angry.send your spirit to to soften their heart and in God hears that prayer anytime anyone ever turns to the Lord in the time that the veil is removed that that Satan puts their it's the work of the Spirit of God. I think of what Luke records in the book of acts in acts chapter 16, where he talks about the conversion of Lydia says in verse 14, one who heard us was a woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God, the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul and after she was baptized her in her household as well. She urged us saying if you have judge me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay she prevailed upon us. Luke writes so who opens the heart. There, as the disciples were preaching the word of God.

It's is the Lord himself. It's the spirit who's at work and so I would say you need to pray that the spirit of God work in this in this person's life and and encourage them with the truth of God's word.

God uses his word, oftentimes to soften those hard hearts and in probably an ongoing conversation but but certainly Dino taking the burden off of yourself is why I need to help this person.

See, I need to open their hearts that this is the work of the Holy Spirit and what you can do is is point them to the truth of the gospel in Scripture to God's love and goodwill towards humanity his care for his creation in oftentimes we don't know why certain things happen.

Why tragic events happen, but it's not helpful to to look at God and to get angry and and justice are to turn our backs to him know it at that time. That's what we need to cast ourselves upon the Lord and seek his face. Even if that means lamenting for a season, you see that all throughout the book of Psalms and so may the Lord bless you as you have these conversations with with this friend. I am a God open this man's heart. You're listening to core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez tough situation in the we know how many people are in the set is not uncommon to be talking to somebody and they had a terrible tragic experience in their life and that's cause them to believe that God is abandon them.

And of course that's the furthest thing from the truth is not. That is anything I think sometimes it's okay for us as believers to say I don't I don't there is no I don't have an answer for you know why this happened. This way we won't know a lot of times the answer to those kinds of questions and the kinds of suffering that people experience you think about Job's suffering. For example, Bill.

You know he has all these questions about why he experienced the great suffering that he experienced in the end, when God you know comes to him.

God doesn't say will let me give you all the answers as to why those things happened. He just says Job.

I am the Lord. I'm the one who made all things. Remember who I am and sometimes that's we have. We don't we don't get to you know peer behind the curtain to to see everything that God is doing everything that God has decreed and why he's done it. We trust that he's the Lord and that he's good and that we can go to him. Even our sorrows in our suffering and that he hears us meant what's go to Steve from Oklahoma who has a question Steve what you're a question for Pastor Israel. I want to get a clarification on the judgment seat of Christ. Second Corinthians 510 which is for the Christian regarding rewards and the great white throne judgment. Revelation 2011 through 15 which is for the unbeliever yes so like I said in my answer just a little bit ago on the broadcast. There are some who differentiate who say there are two different judgments here, but it seems to me like whenever you have the language of this judgment is very simple.

So for example in second Corinthians chapter 5 verse 10 for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil of me that's that's the same essentially rationale that's given in Revelation chapter 20 and and elsewhere, and so seems to me like there's one judgment that's being described here. We don't need to differentiate between a judgment in two different judgments in a great white throne judgment and then a bema seat judgment that kind with about one judgment but we can say what's unique for the believer is that that the curse essentially fell on Jesus and the we don't enter into the judgment. As Jesus said in John chapter 5, we can have confidence on the day of judgment. Even the working to stand before the Lord and and be in his presence, and we can have confidence because of what Christ has done for us but for apart from Christ if were outside of Christ, we don't have Jesus as our advocate there on that day.

Then we can have confidence that we can have hope. But it seems to me like everywhere in the New Testament were talks about this, this judgment is referring to the same judgment where the basis is right, but each one will receive what is due for what is done in the body, whether good or evil.

At the same rationale again in Revelation 20 so that I take it, but again I think the main thing in and where even where those two different differing views agree is that for believers, there is great confidence that we get to have on that day I meant this is core Christianity let's go to Thomas in Toledo Ohio. Thomas what your question. Thank you for taking my call and listen you guys for about 3 1/2 years and I wall the feedback I came across the your show on Bott radio network, and I haven't turned it all cents. So my question is the gentleman earlier this ask about all the baptism of the child in the Catholic faith on that be more but dedication on baptism is typically it's your profession of faith to to the congregation to the public, stating that that I believe in, and Jesus Christ, then you are baptized in the name of the father in the song, the Holy Spirit was a child he wasn't necessarily aware of what he was doing. I know that you are not saved by your baptism, but it is a profession hey Thomas, I really appreciate this follow-up and there is there really is a lot here and, of course, Christians and even Protestants have differed on the question of what baptism is and whether or not children, infants should be baptized.

Now if baptism is first and foremost about my personal profession of faith, something I do well then if that's primarily what it is, it makes sense why why we would you know baptized infants are waiting for them to do something I to profess their faith, but actually when you read the New Testament. Baptism is not first and foremost about my personal public profession. It's first and foremost about the gospel, not about something I do, but something God has done and the promise of the gospel to who to the helpless to those who cannot save themselves even to little children, you think of when Jesus welcomed the little children to himself and so I would say baptism bright as this is the sign that Christ himself gave to us in the church assign ultimately of the gospel of what Christ is accomplished of his death and resurrection is something that is given to believers and I would say to their children. I know that this is a controversy old topic and I'm I'm sure we can we can continue to talk about this, but my view actually changed on this.

You know several several years ago as I was studying the Scriptures and and really came to the conclusion as I was reading the Bible to know the promises of God are for us and for our children and those promises are extended to us, and in these signs like baptism that Jesus gives to believers.

Yet this pledge. All throughout the Scriptures were God says I'm to be a God to you and to your children. Is this what Abraham heard from the Lord in Genesis chapter 17 is reiterated in in places like the book of Revelation.

It's this covenant promise where God says you are my people. Now were called individually to lay hold of those promises by faith, so that a child is baptized in the church is still called to repentance and faith like everyone else in the church community.

The gospel is set before us, we lay hold of it we receive it by faith. Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us at core, Christianity.com and click on offers and the menu or call us at 1-833-843-2673. That's 833 when you contact us. Please let us know how you been encouraged by this program and be sure to join us next time. As we explore the truth of God's word together