Announcer: Next, on That's in the Bible! 



Brother Bob Pellien: Jordan wrote to us this question: 



[On-screen text] If there is really one true church, then why are there so many different religions in the world?  (Jordan, San Diego, CA)Brother Bob: In fact, all of us are one race, the human race. 



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What's important is that we are all united and in Christ.



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Brother Bob Pellien 



Minister of the Gospel



Brother Bob: Hello! I'm Brother Bob Pellien, and thanks for joining us on this episode of That’s in the Bible! Our first question today comes from Julyne in Los Angeles, California. She wrote down this question:



[On-screen text] If God loves all man, then why does He have chosen ones to serve Him? 



Julyne



Los Angeles, CA



Brother Bob: Julyne, thank you for your question. And you know, Julyne, you're right. God so loved the world. In fact, in this very famous quote of our Lord Jesus Christ in John 3:16. He described how He proved His love, which was by giving His only son as a sacrifice. 



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For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.



[John 3:16 Good News Translation]



What does it mean to be set apart and chosen?



Brother Bob: And you're also right in saying that He has chosen ones. And as you also said, those chosen ones were chosen to serve Him. But you know, Julyne, there's another reason stated in the Bible, which is recorded by the writings of Apostle Peter in I Peter 2:9-10. It says:But you are a chosen people, royal priests, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession. You were chosen to tell about the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. At one time you were not a people, but now you are God’s people. In the past you had never received mercy, but now you have received God’s mercy.



[I Peter 2:9-10 New Century Version] 



Brother Bob: So, here, Julyne, God shows us yet another reason why He has His chosen, set-apart people. He's expecting us to lead others out of darkness, and into the light of truth. How are we to do that? By telling others about the wonderful acts of God. And you know, Julyne, here's how our Lord Jesus Christ described that responsibility—the responsibility of God's chosen—to be fruitful, to bear fruit. It was worded this way, and quoted in the Book of John, chapter 15. This is the description given there by none other than the Savior Himself: 



You did not choose me; I chose you and appointed you to go and bear much fruit, the kind of fruit that endures. And so the Father will give you whatever you ask of him in my name.



[John 15:16 Today’s English Version] 



Brother Bob: So here, Jesus described the reason—or one of the additional reasons—for God choosing, Jesus used the term “appointing”—and the purpose was to bear fruit. In fact, to use such terminology as bearing much fruit. And you know, Julyne, regarding that issue of God's choosing (or in the words of Jesus,

Good Scientist And A Good Christian?
 
Brother Bob: I’m Brother Bob Pellien. Thank you for joining us on this podcast episode of That’s In The Bible.
 
Our question for today comes from Ivan Escobar from Los Angeles, California. Let’s hear what his question is all about.
 
Ivan: Just because I study science, does it make me a bad person?
 
Brother Bob: Ivan, the word science simply means knowledge. Obviously, one who pursues knowledge pursues the understanding of even scientific knowledge, science. No one would ever consider them, and no one ever should consider them bad. Certainly, the Bible, the Holy Scriptures, and therefore God, does not also consider anyone who studies science and scientific issues bad. In fact, if we turn to the Holy Scriptures, in the book of Daniel, chapter 1, verse 4. The word “science” is even mentioned here by the Prophet Daniel in a very positive light, thus giving evidence that knowledge, science per se, is in itself not a bad thing. Verse 4 reads this way:
 
Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skillful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
[Daniel 1:4 King James Version]
 
Brother Bob: The Bible makes mentions of science. The Bible makes mentions of knowledge and does not put knowledge nor the pursuit of knowledge or science in a bad light. There’s no evil or malice, per se, in science. In fact, if apostle Paul spoke of it in these terms in I Timothy, chapter 6, in verse 20. When is it however that science could be the pursuit of something that’s not good or not beneficial for a person? In I Timothy 6:20, it says:
 
O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—
[I Timothy 6:20 New King James Version]
 
Brother Bob: It could be something, Ivan, that is not good or not beneficial and that is science or knowledge that is false. If one would pursue and embrace knowledge or science that is false, what could be the result or consequence of that? It was the same apostle who wrote to the Colossians in chapter 2, verse 8, the following:
 
Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
[Colossians 2:8 New King James Version]
 
Brother Bob: They will cheat you, you’ll be deceived, you’ll be victimized by the presentation of false knowledge or false science. What therefore is something that is necessary information that is needed? Philippians chapter 1, verse 9:
 
I pray that your love will keep on growing more and more, together with true knowledge and perfect judgment.
[Philippians 1:9 Good News Translation]
 
Brother Bob: True science, true knowledge, Ivan, is something that is beneficial. It is very much, however, in contrast to what is false knowledge or false science. Science in itself can be good as long as its conclusions are true, correct, and accurate, and not in opposition with the truths of God contained in the Holy Scriptures. When science is true it always aligns itself with biblical teachings of God and does not run in contradiction. You are not bad if you embrace scientific truth because that will always be aligned with what’s contained in the Holy Bible.
 
Thanks for listening. I’m Brother Bob Pellien and we hope you join us next time on That’s in the Bibl...

[Video: Question from Robbie of San Diego, California]



Robbie: Hello, my name is Robbie from San Diego and my question is what would you do if you love someone and you’re planning to marry them, but you two are different religions but you’re both Christian, just different denominations and you’re contemplating three options? Would you change your church to that person’s, try to convince that person to go to your church or you try to raise your family between the two? 



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Brother Bob: Does the Bible give any insight to the consequences of having such kind of divided household? Absolutely. We turn to the Holy Bible in Matthew. Matthew, chapter 12, and here’s what it says there. There’s definitely going to be consequences, Robbie. And it goes like this in the words of our Lord Jesus Christ…



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SHOULD A PERSON MARRY AND BUILD A FAMILY WITH SOMEONE WHO IS OF A DIFFERENT RELIGION?



25 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.



[Matthew 12:25 New King James Version]



Brother Bob: If then, Robbie, you or anyone, wants to ensure that your household, your family, will stand strong and firm and will not be divided and ultimately, ruined, Jesus made it very clear. There cannot be any division. But what if the two elements of the household, husband and wife, would have different beliefs? What must the household have concerning belief? Again, we just pose the questions together and we turn to the Holy Scriptures. Ephesians 4:4-6 reads this way…



4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.



[Ephesians 4:4-6 New King James Version]



Brother Bob: There can be only one faith. If the household, the family, wants to stand strong and firm and have a wonderful future blessed by God, they all have to be inside the one true faith. Because what’s the instruction of the Lord through the Apostle Paul, dear friends? If one will, as mentioned by Robbie in his question, that what if they love someone who’s not a part of the one true faith that one is embracing? What if, inside the one true church, they fall in love with someone who is not part of that one faith that was just described in those verses? Answer of the Bible again, we’ll read it in the LAMSA rendition of the Holy Scriptures. 2 Corinthians, chapter 6 is worded this way in verses 14-18…



14 Do not unite in marriage with un-believers. For what fellowship has righteousness with iniquity? Or what mingling has light with darkness? 15 Or what accord has Christ with Satan? Or what portion has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 Or what harmony has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As it is said: “I will dwell in them and walk in them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” 



17 Wherefore “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. And touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you.”



[2 Corinthians 6:14-17 LAMSA Translation]



Brother Bob: What’s the instruction of the Lord, dear friends? “Come out from among them and be separate.” Do not make marriages with them. The household that is divided cannot stand; it will end up being ruined. And you know,

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Hai: Premarital sex is so common today. Should that still be a stigma to society?



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Brother Bob Pellien: Thank you so much Hai, for your question.



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Brother Bob Pellien



Minister of the Gospel



Brother Bob: You’re really right and statistics back you up. What do they show concerning premarital sex? You can see here a couple of facts or statistics about that:



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By 2010s, 73% of people had 2 or more sexual partners before marriage.



Source: ifstudies.org



Brother Bob: By year 2010s and therein, there was 73% of people [were] reporting that they had had 2 or more sexual partners prior to marriage.



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By 2012, 58% of Americans felt premarital sex wasn’t wrong at all.



Source: reason.com



Brother Bob: By 2012 58% of Americans felt that premarital sex is not wrong at all.



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By the age of 44 – 99% of respondents in a survey had had sex, 95% had done so before marriage.



Source: guttmacher.org



Brother Bob: Those surveyed up to the age of 44, imagine this statistic, 99% of respondents in that survey that had had sex, 95% had done so before marriage. 95%. Well, as these numbers clearly show us, and as you stated, Hai, it is truly a common thing. But then you included in your question that, well, since it is so common, should it still be a stigma or be perceived as something shameful in society? Maybe Hai, as you have posed your question, as many others believe, it should be more tolerated. It should not be viewed as something that is bad or evil or wrong. Well, what are the things that we have to understand about premarital sex? 



What is Premarital Sex?



Brother Bob: Firstly, premarital sex is engaging in sexual acts without the sanction of holy matrimony. We have to understand that sex is a privilege that God granted to married people only. It’s not a right which every individual has. So this prerogative then was given by God. Let’s go back to the first couple Adam and Eve and let’s take a look. What was the instruction that God gave to the first couple, the first man and woman. Genesis 1:26, let’s say verse 27 rather and 28, it reads this way:



So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.



[Genesis 1:27-28 New King James Version]



Brother Bob: We should note here, dear friends, that God blessed the first man and first woman He created before—we should note the sequence, the chronological order there—He blessed them before He instructed them to go be fruitful and multiply.