How Do I Share Christ with My Non-believing Spouse?

Sure, Christ with my nonbelieving spouse. That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity will hi this is Bill Meyer along with pastor Gabriel 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. Our phone lines are open and we are waiting to hear from you. Here's the number it's 833-843-2673 if you want to spell it out. It's really easy. It's 833. The core 833.

The core also post your question on one of our social media sites and you can email us anytime at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today let's go to Edwin calling in from Boise Idaho and what your question for atrial are yeah thank you for my call? I submitted want to so I have been a member of the letter the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for about going back in 2007 thinking you know it was a restored church in that there were there called restoration is but other question I had was his dear need for apostles in a profit in this day and time, or in this dispensation I say I would probably say that weight so is there a need for apostles and prophets in this day.

Thank you is just a quick follow-up and when did you say you we were in the alley.

Are you still a member of the LDS church.

I am not I am not a member of my membership still on the church but I'm not. I I am very inactive.

Okay, I got on even go back to church anymore. I have been in a long time. Okay well and when I love this you get plugged into a solid Bible teaching church and I really appreciate the fact that your calling in with this question. And of course this is something that that the LDS church believes we do need these apostolic figures around today. My view is that those offices, in particular, the office of apostle and profit were extraordinary in nature and that they they they weren't meant to stick around for the church. Throughout the history of her existence, if you will. Now it in the Old Testament, the prophets, in particular were a part of the theocracy God when you don't raised up these prophets to come alongside of the kings of Israel and to to enforce if you will, the terms of his covenant hidden they would they would oftentimes bring God's judgment to bear on Don that the sinful kings of Israel and also on on on the wicked nations enforcing the terms of God's covenant. They were Nina wasn't delivered to them as if these concerted covenant prosecutors and so they were really closely connected with the theocracy in Israel under the old covenant beat the office of the prophet. There will that's that's not a thing anymore, and you were under the new covenant now today and the author.

The Hebrews makes it very clear in Hebrews chapter when he says God spoke to our fathers and in in various ways. One of the things he highlights there and in Hebrews one is God speaking through the prophets under the old covenant, but now he has spoken definitively in his son. So when Jesus came with the advent of the new covenant. Did you have something unique, something distinctly ultimate prophet, priest and king revealed in Jesus Christ.

Now that's not to say that there weren't in the New Testament Nina individuals who had prophetic gifting's I described in places like the book of acts, and in first Corinthians chapter 14 and so on so forth but but this was distinct different from even the office of the properties were guys like Ezekiel and Jeremiah working together with the theocracy in in Israel. So we have to recognize that the some uniqueness there and then, even with regard to to the apostles any of the 12 that's that's a really important number because you you have with the 12 apostles sort of restoration of Israel you think of the 12 tribes of Israel.

For example, but those people were men who had seen the risen Lord witnessed him and were testifying to that resurrection, and those apostles. What they did is they went out and planted churches and they established not new apostles in those churches but elders and deacons in first Timothy three and Titus one. And so I think in the ordinary life of the church. The perpetual offices if you will, are those offices, the office of elder. The office of deacon you don't have no Paul going that to Timothy and say here. The qualifications for the apostles in the future. That kind of the thing. I think this is clear in places like Ephesians chapter 2 in verse 20 the apostle buses were built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone in whom the whole structure being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the spirit and for those those apostles and prophets. Their foundational in nature, the sort of building the foundation of the church and the foundation is is the preaching of the apostles and prophets, that is the proclamation of the gospel. The apostle Paul says to the Galatians. If anybody comes after me what they claim to be an apostle, or even an angel of their if there bring a different message in the gospel that you received. Let them be accursed. Nina person can take that title to themselves that you know you can call yourself an apostle, and certainly and in the LDS church. There are number of individuals who have risen up in and taken that title for themselves, but that that the question is not Nina, can I take that title to myself the question is do I have the theology the doctrine of the apostles. Why preach that and my firm conviction Edwin is that the LDS church does not that that it it's contrary to the true teaching that we find in Scripture and in your right they they they did teach, they do teach that they restored the gospel of Jesus Christ of the gospel of Jesus had been completely lost beginning in the in the early church. Remember Mormon friend that I had Edwin for for many years prior to his death you were going back and forth and he was giving me Mormon apologetic books related to this idea of restoration one Mormon apologists we had me reading was a guy named Hugh Nibley and answer what were going back and forth in assent to the Mormon church teaches the gospel was lost and it needed to be restored. But in my mind that's completely contrary to what Jesus himself said he said I'm in a build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against her, I think, according to to Mormon doctrine, the gates of hell prevailed against the church for a long period of time. A dark season need of the lights went out. According to LDS doctrine for a period of time that had to be restored will. That's not that's not what really happened. That's not what we see in Scripture and certainly not we see in the history of the church and that's my my firm conviction, and so no, I would say that those those offices. The office of prophet, the office of apostle. The those were not meant to be perpetual offices in the life of the the everyday church.

Those men, those apostles in the New Testament, established churches and they put elders and deacons in those churches and that's what we should expect today and Edwin because I'm I'm just so grateful that you call the want to give you an opportunity to follow-up if you want.

For more clarification.

There okay yeah that that be fine. I would I would enjoy that. Actually, okay, what did you do you want to follow-up. Now, do you have another another question related that will well yeah I will yeah do you feel about I everything you said is what I have been reading in the Bible and I feel like that you know that I thought that there was something when I started reading the Bible. Started reading the Old Testament and the New Testament. I started realizing some things that the Jesus of the Mormon church is not the Jesus of the Bible and it can't come like this is that the Inglewood outbreak. They say that the book of Mormon is another Testament of Jesus Christ which I disagree with that. I believe that the Bible is the infallible word of God, and it is the word of God. So that's what I decided to step away now, my dear wife she's her family are all ill be at the group LDS. Importantly, I argued on a she's still my wife. I have to you don't have to just general comedy along with her and not fight about religion, but you know is just how the point of you know that I believe that Christ and God by eternal father has been speaking to me and through the gospel of the of the New Testament showing me all the ways, because the Mormon church. They believe that they believe the Bible is hard to translate correctly but the question is that they will pick they were cherry picked version of the cellular baptism for the dead or the 3° of glory they will take those individually believe those are hundred percent which economic, auto might wait a minute you guys are telling me that you believe the Bible as far as it is translated correctly. But then you cherry pick you take only the first is that you want and you say, with Peter true worship yeah is kind of confusing. Yet now, and when I'm hundred percent with you not. I spent time talking with Mormons and that's to be would happen is your opening up the Scriptures, and you're showing them where what they teach contradicts what the Bible says and the response will be well. We only believe the Bible as it was interpreted or translated correctly so that sort of like you know that the escape route for them. This will ultimately him if that's your strategy, you really do not believe in the authority of Scripture because anytime the Scriptures challenge you if you say why I just don't know about that verse. I do know if it was you know translated faithfully will then essentially you give yourself an escape to disobey God's word not to submit to it. You're right. We have to embrace the truth of Scripture, the infallibility of Scripture and I pray Edwin for you that you will continue to do that and that you'll dig into the word of God and let God speak to you through his word, by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Another thing I know that this is gotta be hard but I would encourage you to get plugged into a solid Bible believing church and if if you want to stay on the line want to send you some resources to encourage you in your walk with the Lord. Let me just pray for you right now because it sounds to me like you said your wife and and family of a lot of people still in the LDS church, and so I pray for your brother God, I will lift and went up to right now. I thank you Lord that he is learning from your word that he's reading it that he's studying it that he's asking questions good questions.

Lord I pray that you would guide him, lead him into the truth more and more of who you are, of what you've done to redeem mankind. Thank you God for him. I pray Lord God of you helping to get plugged into a good church solid church there were. He lives in a pray for peace and his family, Lord, that you would begin to draw all of them into the truth of your word through your son Jesus I pray and thank you and God bless him and bless you Edwin and hang on line for second we would love to send you a copy of our book core Christianity by our founder Dr. Michael Horton, which really help you dig an even deeper to God's word and maybe have some great discussions with your wife on this topic so Matt, great call and Israel. Thanks so much for pulling that out. I think it's important for all our listeners to know the differences between Mormon theology and an no Acura. Dr. Necker Christian doctrine and theology as a means to locate the Scripture say that even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light and I doesn't always come we know with a little red devil and horns looking like that note often is is a subtle deception. I think that's one of the things that Mormonism is United it parades itself around as a kind of Christianity, but it really is not listening to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and if you have kids or grandkids. We have a wonderful book available that will help them understand the richness of God's creation and how he made each of us unique and special. This right. This book is is for grade schoolers is called creative God, a colorful us and there is a lot of unhelpful discussion about culture the gospel race that's are floating around out there, but these are really important subjects. I think important for us important for us to have conversations with our children about these things in this book explores questions related to the image of God, the fall of the gospel and a lot more gets into how God is created is uniquely across ethnic lines how we see and how God rescued us and how if we understand that God's die. We understand God's diverse creation and what what that's in a look like in heaven and the new creation that should motivate us to love each other here on earth. This is a great way to have conversations with your children about some of these things. The beautiful book and so get a hold of this resource. It's yours for donation of any amount over core, Christianity.com and you can find the book by going to your website and looking for offers. In other words, core, Christianity.com/offers. Look for the book creative God colorful us by Charla new Bell just a wonderful book to read with your kids or your grandkids. We do receive voicemails here at core Christianity and here's one that came in from Laura in St. Louis. My question for you. I have very strong faith and I politely gain my husband is not going to church with me but won't engage in any sort of spiritual conversation and I'm really struggling with how to even start this conversation in a little little windows of hope and healing well walk off or change the subject or something and I don't want to put this thing together for over 40 years. I don't want to push but I really feel that you need to witness to one if he could just give me some and thing to him much, Laura. God bless you and I love that you want to share the gospel with your husband you want to have these conversations you not alone in this situation, the apostle Paul in first printing chapter 7 he talks about these these marriages in a world where a believing spouse is married to an unbelieving spouse and in the unbelieving spouse agrees to live together with you. You guys are married you can maybe have a healthy marriage all around but but your husband is not a believer when you try to have conversations about the Lord.

He's he just doesn't seem interested in poet would say you know note to continue to to be together you and you don't know what kind of impact your faith, your walk with Jesus is going to have on him and how God might use your witness even just by the life that you live in.

This is something also that the apostle Peter brings up in first Peter chapter 3. Listen to his words there. Lori says likewise wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be one without a word by the conduct of their wives when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external.

The braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing that you wear. Let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. This is how the holy women who hoped in God use to adorn themselves by submitting to their own husbands. Deportable Peter is saying here is, look, you're married to someone who doesn't embrace the gospel and and there's there's attention there, obviously saying look first things first. Let your conduct speak even louder than words. In one sense, right let let your conduct speech so that they might be what is the words of Peter so that they might be one without a word. Even so, that's that's the first encouragement that having it could be that this is something that you're already doing in terms of your relationship with him. And even though you may not see the impact that it's having. I believe that as you continue to follow Jesus to love Jesus well and through that to love your husband well to be gentle, caring, kind, all of those things that that your husband sees that, and that God can work in and through that that we know that the gospel is not something that we we do, or even that we we can show by our good works. Although our good works I think are in implication and outflow of the gospel. It's it is a message and so there is the communication of truth, but it sounds to me like right now. Your husband doesn't want to hear it at all and I I would just if I review I was sick, pray, pray that the Lord gives you opportunities. Pray that the Lord softens his heart and pray that through conversation, naturally, that the door might be open to to talk about Christ what he's done and II think in some circumstances. In some instances it is appropriate's right to say, look, I just I just need to tell you this because this is weighing on my heart I need you to know about the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. How he's been to me, why am while I am the way that I am what you see the way that I live my life. It's because my sins are forgiven. It's because I have a relationship with the true and the living God.

I have the hope of heaven because I love you I want you to have that as well and so unites a pray that the Lord gives you those opportunities. But if you are sensing that you know this is just something that that you have to stand now is the time I would say I would say do that and and speak the truth in love, even as you are living a life of love is an outflow of your faith in Jesus Christ, Laura, and so may God bless you and be with you and I thank you for your question. Your listing to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Our phone number if you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life is 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 also leave us a voicemail 24 hours a day.

We try to check our voicemails daily and try to get back to you and use your question on the air.

Let's go to Jerry in Branson Missouri.

During what your question for a drill hey Jerry, there are you doing I yeah I really enjoy your show. My question is what I'm reading about the creation from God and he created male and female. Then he rested and then he formed Adam and informed Eve from Adam, and then later on when he was when Canaan killed Abel.

He was going throw them out of the garden. Then James said, don't put me out there with them. The basically the killing workshop. Another really computer. What's going on there is that God created male and female and then came back later informed Adam and Eve that the order is so God created Adam and then from Adam God took Eve, if you will you be read about this in Genesis chapter 2 and both male and female men and women were made in God's image. Genesis chapter 1 verse 27 God created man in his own image in the image of God he created him male and female he created them seems like maybe some of the confusion is coming from the chronology and just we is the sort of order of the events as they took place neck. There can be a little bit of filming. It can be a little computed confusing when you're reading the first few chapters of Genesis. But you have God making Adam taking Eve from Adam and then and then they have children you get Cain and Abel and and probably others as well.

You know it when when he's concerned after being basically excommunicating a cast doubt is a wonder that other people getting killed is is probably his own relatives knew that Adam and he probably had more children than are just described here and so that's that's why we can unpack that that dilemma if you will, but that's that's the that the proper order and sounds like you're getting the word God bless you as you do that, brother. Thank you for giving us a call. Thanks Jerry appreciate you being a regular listener to core Christianity let's go to my calling in from Florida. Mike, what's your question for Israel will know that will well… Not all people. Daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams… Showing there is still profit coming in and also with the book of Revelation to prop it but called out about the weather because there is no teacher and preacher disciples little bit profit from that work. Hey Mike, thank you for I love you know I appreciate brother when people call and even when there are disagreements that the goal is to search the Scriptures and ultimately to have a biblical understanding of these things and so you mentioned, and in acts chapter 2 the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy, on the day of Pentecost in a world where Peter says this is that which was spoken or uttered through the prophet Joel in one of the things you said is we know that was not then. It's now and in what I what I would you say is no. Actually Peter is saying there annexed to this is happening right now is this what you're seeing here on the day of Pentecost is exactly what Joel prophesied in Joel chapter 2 relating to this latter rain outpouring if you will of God's spirit and what's emphasized there in Joel chapter 2 right. It is the fact that the spirit of God under the new covenant is going to be democratized. What I mean by that is, is not just going to be that the prophets in the Kings and the priests in Israel who were gonna experience the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives now under the new covenant. All of us by faith in Jesus Christ, united to him have the spirit of God living in us pulses to the Ephesians we been sealed by the Holy Spirit, but the office of prophet which I mentioned earlier on the broadcast today. You know was it was a part of the theocracy in the Old Testament and and was really him when we look at the prophets in the New Testament what what they're doing essentially is helping to fortify to buttress the proclamation of the gospel. Early on there.

I don't think that that office was meant to be a perpetual office in the life of the church today.

For the reasons already mentioned of the perpetual offices that we see in the New Testament are the office of teacher of Elder of Deacon. I think we need to get back to the doctrine of the apostles.

Everyone talk about you know that we need. We knew prophets today. We knew apostles today know the problem is we've drifted from the doctrine that teaching the theology of the apostles and prophets that we see outlined in the New Testament, we need to do with any new prophets. We only knew apostles to bring us a new message when you go back to the ancient apostolic message we need to heed the words of the original prophets that testify to us of the coming of the Masonic Messiah, Jesus Christ, and ultimately that's what they were meant to these prophets.

These apostles they were pointing to the gospel to the other. The Hebrew says God bore witness by signs and wonders various miracles gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will bore witness to what bore witness to the gospel. That's what we need to set our our our focus, our eyes, our attention, we need to get back to that message. The message of the apostles and prophets preached in the New Testament that we cling to. By faith and received with joy. 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 bar 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