Defending the Faith

1
DefendingtheFaith

• But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and
  always be ready to give a defense to everyone who
  asks you a reason for the hope that is in you,
  with meekness and fear
• 1 Peter 315

2
What Is Apologetics?

• Greek apologia (apologia)
• a plea (apology) - answer (for self),
  clearing of self, defence. (Strongs)
• Word appears 8 times in the New Testament
  scriptures
• (1 Peter 315 Acts 221 2516 1
  Cor. 93 2 Cor. 711 Phil. 17 117 2
  Timothy 416)

3
Philippians 16-7

• Being confident of this very thing, that He who
  has begun a good work in you will complete it
  until the day of Jesus Christ 7 just as it is
  right for me to think this of you all, because I
  have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my
  chains and in the defense and confirmation of the
  gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.

4
Why Are You A Christian?

• Christianity is either everything for mankind,
  or nothing. It is either the highest certainty,
  or the greatest delusion. But if Christianity be
  everything for mankind, it is important for every
  man to be able to give a good reason for the hope
  that is in him in regard to the eternal verities
  of the Christian faith. To accept these verities
  in an unthinking way, or to receive them simply
  on authority, is not enough for an intelligent
  and stable faith.
• -- F.R. Beattie

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Basic Tenants of Our Defense

• God (Infinite, all-wise, all-powerful,
  all-loving) exists
• God has revealed Himself to man (In nature, and
  especially in the inspired Scriptures)
• Jesus Christ is the Son of God and our Messiah
• Salvation for mankind comes only through Jesus
  Christ

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Misconceptions Regarding Faith

• Your Faith is Blind

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Matthew 2237

• Jesus said to him, You shall love the LORD your
  God with all your heart, with all your soul, and
  with all your mind.
• The heart, soul and mind were designed to work in
  tangent. It is not necessary to reject reason in
  following the heart. In fact, it goes against
  how God has created each of us.

8
2 Timothy 112

• For this reason I also suffer these things
  nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I
  have believed and am persuaded that He is able to
  keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
• Jesus said in John 832, And you shall know the
  truth, and the truth shall make you free.

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Faith in Christianity

• Faith in Christianity is based on evidence. It
  is reasonable faith. Faith in the Christian
  sense goes beyond reason but not against it.
• -- Paul Little
• (Know What You Believe, pg. 30)

10
Misconceptions Regarding Faith

• Your Faith is Blind
• Sincerity is Enough

11
1 Corinthians 1514

• And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is
  empty and your faith is also empty.
• The view that is doesnt matter what you believe
  in, as long as you believe in something, is not
  valid.
• The Christian faith is objective. It has an
  object Christ!

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The Object of Your Faith

• A Moslem fellow approached me and, during a most
  edifying conversation, said very sincerely, I
  know many Moslems who have more faith in Mohammed
  than some Christians have in Christ. I said,
  That may well be true, but the Christian is
  saved. You see, it doesnt matter how much
  faith you have, but rather who is the object of
  your faith that is important from the Christian
  perspective of faith.
• -- Josh McDowell
• (The New Evidence That Demands A Verdict, pg. 34)

13
John 146

• Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and
  the life. No one comes to the Father except
  through Me.

14
Misconceptions Regarding Faith

• Your Faith is Blind
• Sincerity is Enough
• The Bible is Full of Myths

15
2 Peter 116

• For we did not follow cunningly devised fables
  when we made known to you the power and coming of
  our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of
  His majesty.
• Unlike Greek mythology, the virgin birth,
  miracles, resurrection, etc., are all attributed
  to an actual historical figure. A man the N.T.
  writers knew personally.

16
Luke 11-3

• Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in
  order a narrative of those things which have been
  fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who from the
  beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the
  word delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me
  also, having had perfect under-standing of all
  things from the very first, to write to you an
  orderly account, most excellent Theophilus.

17
1 Peter 51

• The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a
  fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of
  Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that
  will be revealed.
• The N.T. writers were not making up stories to
  teach moral lessons. They were eyewitnesses to
  the events which prove Jesus to be the exalted
  Son of God!

18
Acts 222

• Men of Israel, hear these words Jesus of
  Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by
  miracles, wonders, and signs which God did
  through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also
  know.
• Peter not only claimed to be an eyewitness, he
  said to the Jews, i.e., You know it too!

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Misconceptions Regarding Faith

• Your Faith is Blind
• Sincerity is Enough
• The Bible is Full of Myths
• The Jesus of History is Unknowable

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A Flawed Preconception

• When they skeptics study the life of Christ
  and read about His miracles or resurrection, they
  conclude that it was not a miracle or a
  resurrection because we know (not historically,
  but philosophically) that there is no God, we
  live in a closed system, miracles are not
  possible, and there is no supernatural.
  Therefore, these things cannot be. What men have
  done it to rule out the resurrection of Christ
  even before they start an historical
  investigation of the resurrection.
• -- Josh McDowell
• (The New Evidence That Demands A Verdict, pg. 34)

21
Acts 2624-28

• Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with
  a loud voice, Paul, you are beside yourself!
  Much learning is driving you mad! 25 But he
  said, "I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak
  the words of truth and reason. 26 For the king,
  before whom I also speak freely, knows these
  things for I am convinced that none of these
  things escapes his attention, since this thing
  was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you
  believe the prophets? I know that you do
  believe. 28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, You
  almost persuade me to become a Christian.

22
1 Corinthians 156

• After that He was seen by over five hundred
  brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain
  to the present, but some have fallen asleep.
• History is knowledge of the past based on the
  testimony of worthy witnesses. (example Our
  knowledge of Lincoln as president). It is not
  based upon preconception or philosophy.

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Misconceptions Regarding Faith

• Your Faith is Blind
• Sincerity is Enough
• The Bible is Full of Myths
• The Jesus of History is Unknowable
• Loving Christians Should Accept Other Religious
  Views

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Definition Tolerance

• To recognize and respect others beliefs and
  practices, and so forth without sharing them
  to bear or put up with someone or something not
  especially liked.
• Websters New World Dictionary
• Love endures all things (1 Cor. 137)

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Modern Definition of Tolerance

• The definition of new tolerance is that every
  individuals beliefs, lifestyle, and perception
  of truth claims are equal Your beliefs and my
  beliefs are equal, and all is relative
• Thomas A. Helmbock
• Denies objective truth. Real right and wrong.
  If Christianity is right, other religions are
  wrong!

26
Acts 1722-23

• Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and
  said, "Men of Athens, I perceive that in all
  things you are very religious 23 for as I was
  passing through and considering the objects of
  your worship, I even found an altar with this
  inscription TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the
  One whom you worship without knowing, Him I
  proclaim to you

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Misconceptions Regarding Faith

• Your Faith is Blind
• Sincerity is Enough
• The Bible is Full of Myths
• The Jesus of History is Unknowable
• Loving Christians Should Accept Other Religious
  Views
• Most who reject the Christ have Intellectual
  reasons

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A Bias Against Faith

• I had motives for not wanting the world to have
  a meaning For myself, the philosophy of
  meaninglessness was essentially an instrument of
  liberation, sexual and political.
• Aldous Huxley, An Athiest
• Individuals who reject Christ do so our of
  ignorance (often self-imposed) or bias.

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Romans 120-21

• For since the creation of the world His invisible
  attributes are clearly seen, being understood by
  the things that are made, even His eternal power
  and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21
  because, although they knew God, they did not
  glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became
  futile in their thoughts, and their foolish
  hearts were darkened.

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Conclusion

• Each of us should be able to give a defense of
  our faith. Our faith is reasonable, defendable,
  and able to save our souls.
• To defend it may enable us to convert others to
  Christ to the saving of souls!