What Divides Catholics and Protestants?

One of the main differences between Catholics and Protestants matches one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity will happy Friday to you. This is Bill Meyer along with pastor Gabriel Sanchez.

We are so thankful that you have joined us this is a radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. Our phone lines are open right now and you can call us for the next 25 minutes or so with your question.

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Chapter 8 talks about DP and I was confused because you know I will. Bible study will make sure that people write and it is said that this individual would buy God mixed up, so I just want to know was that why is it explaining that she and her lively using those words they Blake I love that you're digging in the Scriptures and teaching Bible studies. Proverbs chapter 8 talks about wisdom and of course in in Proverbs 7. Proverbs is a part of the wisdom literature you have this these beautiful pictures. What wisdom looks like a minute and you know throughout the book of Proverbs with wisdom is this very important theme in here in Proverbs chapter 8 wisdom is personified as this. This woman lady was Lady wisdom. We read in verse 22 the Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work. The first of his acts of old ages ago. I was set up at the first, before the beginning of the earth when there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water so wisdom being there at the very beginning at the creation on the very next chapter. You have kind of this.

This contrast with you. If you wisdom personified is this is this woman in Proverbs chapter 8 and also in chapter 9. You have Lady Fawley in Proverbs chapter 9 verses 13 and following the woman folly is loud.

She is seductive and knows nothing. So what we have here is what you see in the wisdom literature asserted poetic language personification outside of the good we have to say it's it's literally a person is just talking about the importance of wisdom and ultimately the wisdom of God in creating the whole world. There have been some people throughout the history of the church who have tried to make her a real close tie between wisdom as it provided personified in Proverbs chapter 8 and Christ, the eternal word of the father, we gotta be careful if we if we draw to close of a tie there though because you know of this section, I just read in Proverbs chapter 8 talks about wisdom is, is itself almost being a part of the creation Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work. The first of his acts of old.

This was actually one of the one of the text of Scripture that many of the ancient church fathers debated about as there were discussions about the identity of Jesus Christ.

We know that Christ, the eternal word of the father.

I was uncreated. The always was EZ's eternal but in another sense I think what we do want to see Christ. Here in Proverbs chapter 8 insofar as the New Testament tells us very clearly prescribed is chapter 1 verse 30 you are in Christ who became to us wisdom from God. Righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that it is written, let the one who boasts boast in the Lord. So I would say you just taken. This is as what it is, wisdom literature, personification of wisdom and and not necessarily feel like you need it.

You need to teach that this is this is this is specifically a person that is being defined here. Thank you so much for your question and hope that that encourages you and helps you as you continue to teach this in Blake, thanks so much for listening to core Christianity. We appreciate the fact that your regular listener and that you're digging into God's word on a regular basis and then teaching it to others. That is so exciting to us. This is core Christianity with pastor atrial Sanchez here we are just about a week away from Halloween and it seems like every year at this time we start getting a lot of calls about Satan and demons and what kind of power to Satan, have in our lives. We have a wonderful free resource would like to tell you about today and you we do get a lot of these kinds of questions bill you. You know, and so people are often times when they think about spiritual warfare, when they when they think about the devil they're not there not approaching this from what the Scriptures teach.

It's, it's more of a sort of cultural that the stuff that you hear through media that kind of the things that's why we think it's really important to go back to the Bible to understand what what the Scriptures have to say about this as we have this resource called can the devil read my mind.

It's a 70 page booklet that gives you just a thorough understanding of what the Bible says about Satan, demons about spiritual warfare, and it's yours for free.

It's it's a free resource over it. Core, Christianity.com and atrial. This book also has my guess practical ideas on how we can protect ourselves from satanic influence. What one of the things I love them to the third chapter of this booklet is, is titled resisting the devil, something that were called to do as Christians that injustices resist the devil and he will flee. It's if you want some some just practical information encouragement as to how to do that in your walk with the Lord.

Get a hold of this resource. Again it's called, can the devil read my mind. Once again, it's absolutely free. You can downloaded by going to our website at core, Christianity.com/offers that's core Christianity.com/offers. You can also call us for that resource or any one of our resources at 833-843-2673. That's 833. The core let's go to Terry calling in from Millington, Tennessee Terry what your question for pastor atrial settlement and not killing me and I and I were just talking about wisdom there and I think that this is a wisdom issue. I don't know that I would say it's you know scriptural or or not scriptural in terms of thinking about how you're going to invest your resources.

I wouldn't say you know on the basis of some passages in in the New Testament talks about world currency that that well if you invest, invest in something like crypto currency than maybe you're contributing to that that this is that's just speculation. I think you know that this is a wisdom issue. You have to think through what does it look like to be a good steward of the money that God has given to me. Let me tell you one thing, friends that you that you can never be worried about investing in because you're always in a get a great return. That's God's kingdom.

Jesus said right lay up treasure for yourself, not let where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.

But but lay up treasures for yourself that are really good to be enduring that that's what it looks like when we invest in God's kingdom.

And so this is a wisdom, a wisdom thing Terry I would I would say that as you think about the resources that God has given to you and what wise investments are when you pray about that the that that's how you make these kinds of decisions. With all that in mind just encouraging you to invest in in the things that are eternal. Ultimately, in the kingdom of Christ and those things which which further the advancement of the gospel. So God bless you and appreciate your your question. Thanks much Terry. This is core Christianity with pastor atrial Sanchez would love to get your question on the Bible or the Christian life doctrine theology how your Christian walk may intersect with today's cultural issues. Anything that is open, you can give us a call right now 833. The core is the number here's a question we received from one of our listeners named Melissa. Parents are not what I needed. I want to know what the main Melissa Tigre question and a question that I know a lot of people have and there are some significant differences in I had. I have friends who are Roman Catholic, who I love who I appreciate chatting with them about the things of the Lord and and many who I believe you know they they have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and in in terms of some of the similarities you know when we talk about things like the doctrine of God. The doctrine of the holy Trinity, the deity of Jesus Christ. The incarnation there.

There's a lot of similarity there and and stuff that we can be grateful for. But then there are also some significant differences between the theology of the Roman Catholic Church and what Protestant Christians you know from the time of the Reformation and have generally held to and believed and embraced, and those differences really extended to almost just about everything else you think of ecclesiology that is church government. How the church is to be governed in of the Roman Catholic Church believes in the Pope this this sort of universal bishop or pastor over the entire church on earth who can't even speak for God it at certain points. Is this this one sort of central figure wears in in in Protestant theology is not it's not the pope or any man on earth who is the head of the church. It's Jesus Christ. Jesus is the head of the church. The possible tells us in first Corinthians chapter 12. Do you have enough of those differences with regard to church government with regard to ecclesiology. You have differences with regard to worship as a result of that you think of what the worship service looks like piety what it looks like to grow in the Christian life and you also. This is probably one of the biggest differences have a significant difference between how how these two traditions if you will understand doctrines like the doctrine of so Terry allergy the doctrine of salvation.

How is an individual right with God. And this was especially one of the big sticking points during the time of the Reformation with with men like Martin Luther and John Calvin.

That question how can I be right with God.

What does it mean to be justified in the sight of a holy God in Protestant theology that historically you know justification is is an act of God's definitive act of God whereby he accepts us as righteous in his sight.

Not for anything that we do not because we are inherently righteous, but solely because of the righteousness of Jesus Christ which is given to us imputed to us and received by faith alone. It's a gift.

The apostle Paul in Romans chapter 4 talks about God not justifying that the righteous but but sinners were worse sinners when were justified in Catholic theology justification as as this part of so Terry theology the doctrine of salvation is is defined very differently.

It's it's not a definitive act.

This one time thing where were justified. Rather, it's this process of in word renewal bit that starts at an individual's baptism. It's something that an individual can can also lose you can be in in Catholic theology justified and then lose your justification if you commit what they refer to as a mortal sin to go back and forth between the status of justified and and not justified, whereas I would say in and historically Protestants would say will know you're either justified or you aren't in.

If you're justified solely by the grace of God. You will also be sanctified by the spirit of God because the spirit of God is working in you and so those are some of the big, big difference is that that Catholics and Protestants have had since the time of the Reformation and the important thing in this was big during the time of the Reformation is searching the Scriptures the Bible the word of God is our ultimate authority and there's a tendency for all Christians in all traditions to drift from the word of God and so we need to continually go back to the Bible. That's what I want to encourage you to do.

Melissa is to open up the Scriptures to be in a church where the Bible is faithfully taught with the pastor gets up. He opens up the word of God and he teaches from the text. He's expositor in God's word because that's what we need more than anything we need to hear the voice of the living God through his word and I pray that that you will commit to doing that as you as you find a church and as you grow in your own faith. Thanks, great! Israel but we have Pope Francis on line 3. Yeah, I went to Savannah yet yet if you last met in conversation, listening 833-843-2673 hope yeah no I appreciate that question. And like I said, I have some some dear friends who are who are Roman Catholic and not we we talk about some of these differences I think it's good you can have healthy charitable dialogue where your were your respectful and and be honest about the differences not minimizing them but going back to the biblical text. I meant this is core Christianity with pastor Gabriel Sanchez, one of the ways you can engage with our program is through our YouTube channel is really cool you can actually watch Israel live in the studio during the show every day at 11:30 AM Pacific, which translates in the 1230 Mountain 130 Central or 230 Eastern time for that half-hour you can that go to our YouTube channel. Check out what a drills doing in the studio and you can also send us a question that way. In fact, we got one from Lorene. Who's watching on YouTube right now. She says thank you for the show.

It helps us draw closer to God. What does Jesus mean when he said we are the salt of the earth, how are we to be salt and Lorraine, thank you for that question. So this comes from the sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapter 5 in verse 13 Jesus said you are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored. It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet and you are the light of the world.

A city set on a hill cannot be hidden, nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house in the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. I think this this entire section helps us understand this idea of being the salt of the earth a little bit better.

I think it refers to the positive impact the church of Jesus Christ can have on the world around it. Salt you in the ancient world was it was used for was it was used it to spice things up to make them better.

I happen to like salt on on my food ready.

It makes things better.

It was also used for a number of other reasons. Think of medicinal reasons you think of preserving food.

For example, you didn't have refrigeration like we do today. I you and you salt to preserve things like like meat and soak the church insofar as she is filled with the Holy Spirit proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. Loving our neighbors. Even our enemies as Christ calls us to hear in the same sermon on the mount were called to have that that kind of impact on society, preserving it, bringing healing, making it better. It's not a sort of culture war you know us, you know against them fighting against each other know what were to have a positive impact to the proclamation of the gospel and through acts of charity. Loving our neighbors and historically the church has done just that. Not always in their times are we done better that than in other times I think of during some of the engine plagues that struck the Roman Empire of the church. Christians were known by society because they were going out of their way to care for those who were sick they were loving, even those were dying of the play, and as a result, many were coming to faith and and others were saying wow look at their good works and doing what verse 16 says, giving glory to the father who is in heaven. And so we are is part of our our identity as Christians salt and light in this world and in Christ calls us to live as such, thanks for that question I meant you're listening to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to Frank in Abilene, Kansas Frank what your question for Israel, so most becomes solid academic undaunted by the water spirit in the Greek verse for spirit. On Thursday, 1100, which is naturally on acquire language that was recalled, yeah, a couple of things. It will Frank and I just can I just follow up with you. Is this the pastor of the church that you're a member at or just some pastor online or neither thoughts are the God of the church is not random but we don't agree with yeah yeah me neither agree with the mileage.

I think you should keep them as a friend. Maybe find a different church because the reality is brother that that is just a gross misinterpretation of Scripture, even of the you know the Greek language as well. I would say a passage of Scripture that makes it absolutely clear that not every believer is in a speaking times. That is, then that is just saying like that. I know there's a debate on whether or not the gift of tongues is a gift of the Lord is giving today. I happen to believe that but it was a gift primarily associated with the days of the apostles, the early advancement of of the Christian church, the gospel, but but Paul in first Corinthians chapter 12 makes it absolutely clear that even even their lives. Even assuming that the gift of tongues is around. The reality is not every Christian has the same gift. Paul says at the end of first Corinthians chapter 12 are all apostles are all prophets, are all teachers do all work miracles. Do all possess gifts of healing do all speak with tongues is a rhetorical question and he expects that the answer is no, of course not, because were different parts of the body. The body is only healthy local churches are only healthy because each of us are gifted in different ways. We don't have the same gift. Imagine a church. It was just full of preachers and that was the only gift that bit that everybody had that would be a pretty unhealthy church were gifted in unique ways in different ways. As members of the body of Christ, and we come together we use our particular gifts for the building up of the whole. And so Paul) first previous chapter 12 makes it absolutely clear that not every Christian would have the gift of tongues but but the other issue here is really adding to it sounds like the gospel because the gospel says you're forgiven solely on the basis of Christ's work for you and by faith. It's not hate your forgiven if you do these things like speak in tongues. The book of Galatians is about this. You know, there were a group of of Jewish believers who were saying okay if you really want to be a Christian if you really want to be justified. Yeah, that's great. You accepted Jesus you have faith in him, but you also need to start following the ceremonial law otherwise are not a part of the church you need to actually go and get circumcised like you know God told Abraham in Genesis chapter 17. Need to start obeying these food laws so on and so forth. And Paul in the book of Galatians gives us one of the sternest warnings rebukes it to that to that church. In particular, say, look, this is not the gospel. This is a corruption of the gospel, but they might call it a gospel, but it's adding to the gospel something else. It's a whether people are adding the ceremonial law or you need to speak in tongues. That's a problem that's a corruption of the true gospel and so I would say brother in a week. We need to be in churches where the gospel is is understood where we can get other things wrong. But let's not get the gospel wrong and if if our church is getting the gospel wrong. The most fundamental thing the most basic thing that's can I have a horrible horrible repercussions on our lives, because the message of the gospel is the most important thing for the Christian church. It is the treasure of the Christian church and were called to uphold it. If it's where we get our life from and so the Bible is very clear about what the gospel is, and it's also very clear about the fact that not every believer even even if we assume that the gift of tongues was was for today that not every believer would have that gift and so on the basis of those two things I think that that you shouldn't feel you shouldn't feel bad. The fact that you don't speak in tongues you should and you also should feel like what I must not be a Christian.

I must not be saved because this hasn't happened. The question for you is have you turned to Christ.

Turn from your sin turn to Jesus Christ and lay hold of him by faith. If you say Jesus is Lord in your heart truly repulses in first granted you can do that except by the Holy Spirit so that the sign that you have the Holy Spirit and continue to grow in your understanding of God's word and in in a solid gospel preaching church. God bless Frank this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez.

Here's an email we received a drill from sailor, she says, how is the devil influencing us can he hear our thoughts.

Yeah, I don't think you can hear our thoughts, the devil is not omnipresent me. There are demons out there that attack us as believers. One things CS Lewis and in his little book on spiritual warfare.

The Screwtape letters. As you know some pieces as I get so good. He says it's not always what the devil puts into our minds. It's what he keeps out our minds and I think what he means by that is, is just the truth of God's word.

You know we were really concerned.

A lot of times about those temptations that the devil is sending our weight. Maybe sometimes therefrom you know that evil spirits from fallen Angels.

A lot of times just comes from us our own sinful hearts. James talks about this in in the beginning of his epistle. You know each each person is drawn away when that when they're led astray drawn away by their own sinful inclinations as those temptations lead times rise up from within us and we want to blame those temptations on the devil and so what we need more than anything is to fill our minds and our hearts with the truth of God's word, with what Christ is said in Scripture with faithful Bible teaching prayer, you know, praying, committing ourselves to prayer to Christian community.

That's the stuff of the devil wants to keep out of our minds and that's often times where he has the greatest victory and again I just applied the resource that we have and we been offering free over core, Christianity.com because it's it's speaking to this very question. Can the devil read my mind get a hold of this resource brothers and sisters and I went to great time.

We been able to have together. You just talking about the word of God. Some of the differences between Christian traditions, but at the end of the day getting back to the gospel again and again and again, what is that is not what we do is not whether we speak in tongues is what Christ did for us.

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