Answering Biblical Questions Apologetically Without Being Sorry

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Answering Biblical Questions Apologetically
Without Being Sorry
1 Peter 315
Cary Christian
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PICTURE START
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Answering Biblical Questions Apologetically
Without Being Sorry
1 Peter 315
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Why are we doing this?

• 1 Peter 315

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15. but ??sanctify ?Christ as Lord in your
hearts, always being ready ?to make a ??defense
to everyone who asks you to give an account for
the ?hope that is in you, yet ??with gentleness
and ??reverence -Peter 315 NAU
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Why are we doing this?

• In 1 Peter 315
• Apologia
• Means to give a defence
• Used in the phrase, Defence of the Gospel
• Phil. 17
• Phil. 116

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How do we do this?

• S.P.E.A.K.
• Start real Conversation
• Pay attention
• Evaluate their words
• Ask questions
• Kindly respond and guide
• Write if possible
• I write stuff down while they speak, if I can
• Look for hiccup

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IGOR
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SPEAK Apologetics

• Start with their questions
• Pay attention to their answers
• Evaluate their words
• Ask questions about what they said
• Kindly respond and guide back through their
  thoughts and words
• Who is in focus here?

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Start with their Questions

• What are they wondering?
• What did they comment on?
• What are they criticizing?
• Igor The Bible is full of errors?

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Pay attention to their Answers

• Good time to write down statements
• This can freak some out, but once you explain
  that you want to listen well, its cool.
• You can also keep your latter questions focused
  by pointing at things they actually said.
• Make sure to keep good eye contact, though.
• Focus on buzz words
• Do not go A.D.D. on them stick to THIS
  discussion
• Igor A million errors in the Bible?!?

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Evaluate their Words

• Pick out buzz words
• Organize thoughts
• Ask for clarification
• Igor What do you mean by errors? Based on
  what?

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Ask Questions about what they Said

• Ask for more clarification
• Test with hypotheticals
• Offer conclusions/comparisons
• Igor Can we talk about the top 50?

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Kindly respond and guide them through their
thoughts and words

• Put your evaluations in order
• Connect things they said
• Propose questions that highlight the logical
  fallacies
• Igor So, you dont know the book or the author
  or 1 of the errors? Why do you believe that,
  then?

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Points of Concern

• No one saved in a debate
• The point is to listen
• Look for a hiccup
• Show respect
• And
• The point is to Listen!

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Sometimes . . . theres a gap

• There are things that might be an invisible wall
  between you and another causing a distance
  between you. Being aware of these potential
  issues is important.

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Terms of Distance

• Syllogism
• Exegetical Fallacies
• Cultural Influence
• Stereotyping

• Main/Predicate bait and switch
• Incorrect Hermeneutical Logic
• Categorical Switch of Truth/Culture
• Much like a practical syllogism a blanket
  assumption

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Terms of Distance

• Caricatures
• Micro-Argumentation
• Emotional Rejection/Distrust
• Wrong Definition

• Disproportionate Stereotyping
• An overemphasis on secondary Doctrine as Primary
• Negative experience that is real
• Wrong Definition

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Terms of Distance

• Doctrinal Conclusions
• Satanic Influence

• Genuine thoughtful doctrinal view, opposing
  biblical Christianity
• Spiritual warfare is real

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Two Big categories

• Doctrinal Issues
• Personal Issues
• Which is it?

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The Big Question

• WHAT HAPPENED?

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A Walk Back Home A Progression of Degree to gain
ground

• Is it Possible?
• Is it Probable?
• Is it Likely?
• Is it Actual?

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Answering Biblical Questions Apologetically
Without Being Sorry
1 Peter 315
Cary Christian
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Answering Biblical Questions Apologetically
Without Being Sorry
1 Peter 315 an example
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Question 1

• Cults, World Religions, Christianity The Gospel

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Key Verse

• 2 Corinthians 114
• (Context of all of Chapters 10 11
  Specifically 111-4)

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1. For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom
   we have not preached, or you receive a different
   spirit which you have not received, or a
   different gospel which you have not accepted, you
   bear this beautifully. (NAU)

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Key Indicators

• Another Jesus
• A Different Spirit
• Another Gospel
• K.I.S.S. method - simplicity

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Brief overview of Mormon experience

• Met with a couple (Fosbergs) that we bought our
  Corgi from
• They had suffered a lot of loss and little to no
  aid from their Baptist and Methodist backgrounds
• Mormons helped them a lot
• They thought they were still in a Christian church

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Mormons The Dialog

• Generally, one of two situations
• New Mormons
• Elders at the Door
• Most successful pseudo-Christian cult

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The Fosbergs New Mormons

• Thought it was Christianity
• Came from Christian backgrounds
• Something usually happens
• Zealous about newfound faith
• Attempted to go to Scripture
• Clarified for me on doctrines on topic
• Hiccup

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The Topic Three Heavens

• Doctrine
• Terrestrial Heaven
• Telestial Heaven
• Celestial Heaven
• Text They could not find, but 2 Cor. 122
• Question Why three heavens?
• Why are three needed?
• Answer Because God would never send away even a
  wayward child only deny Christ gets you sent
  away.
• Question What about Matt. 721-22 2541?
• I never thought of that before . . . - Hiccup

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SO

• Are we really debating?
• What are we doing?
• Key verse and 3 indicators with cults?
• Is Mormonism Christianity?

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SO

• Are we really debating? NO
• What are we doing? Listening
• Key verse and 3 indicators with cults? 2 Cor.
  114
• Is Mormonism Christianity? NO

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Answering Biblical Questions Apologetically
Without Being Sorryfurther examples
1 Peter 315
New Life ABF
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REVIEW

• First . . .

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Answering Biblical Questions Apologetically
Without Being Sorry
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apologetics. Occasionally called eristics,
apologetics is the formal defense of the
Christian faith. Pocket Dictionary of
Theological Terms (Downers Grove, Ill.
InterVarsity Press, 1999), 13.
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Not to be confused with.. Apologizing
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Why are we doing this?

• 1 Peter 315

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15. but ?sanctify ?Christ as Lord in your hearts,
always being ready ?to make a ??defense to
everyone who asks you to give an account for the
?hope that is in you, yet ??with gentleness and
??reverence -Peter 315 NAU
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Why are we doing this?

• In 1 Peter 315
• Apologia
• Means to give a defence
• Used in the phrase, Defence of the Gospel
• Phil. 17
• Phil. 116

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How do we do this?

• Be Sleq
• Start
• Listen
• Evaluate
• Question
• Write if possible
• Look for hiccup

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Answering Biblical Questions Apologetically
Without Being Sorryfurther examples
1 Peter 315
CCs Apologetics
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Cults and Religions Discussed

• Mormonism
• Jehovahs Witnesses
• Catholicism
• 7th Day Adventists

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REALLY??!! CATHOLICS??!!
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Key verse for cults

• 2 Corinthians 114
• For if ?one comes and preaches ?another Jesus
  whom we have not preached, or you receive a
  ?different spirit which you have not received, or
  a ?different gospel which you have not accepted,
  you ?bear this ?beautifully.

• Another Jesus
• Another Spirit
• Another Gospel

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So, what about?...?

• Mormons
• Jehovahs Witnesses
• 7th Day Adventists
• Catholics

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Mormons and 114

• Jesus is just a spirit child of the gods (Mary
  and Adam), whos brother is Lucifer and is our
  elder brother.
• The Spirit is just a fluid dispensed for living,
  which is dictated by legalism.
• The Gospel is one where the atonement of Christ
  only removes past guilt and sins and enables one
  to work for salvation.

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Mormons and other doctrines

• Historically founded by Joseph Smith in early
  1800s
• Claims special revelation from angel Moroni
• The Bible needs the Book of Mormon
• Cultic formulation of so-called revelation
• About 25,000 words verbatim with KJV
• Multiple historical inaccuracies and changes

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Keep in Mind
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Jehovahs Witnesses and 114

• Jesus is first creation of Jehovah, known as
  Michael before He is a god.
• The Spirit is just an it, an impersonal force.
• The Gospel is one where the atonement of Christ
  only puts us back to pre-Adam status and enables
  one to work for salvation.

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J.W.s and other doctrines

• Historically founded by Charles Russell in late
  1800s, which most JWs will deny
• Deny doctrine of Trinity
• Teach annihilation
• The New World Translation is extremely
  problematic
• No textual Criticism
• Terrible handling of original languages
• All hermeneutics go through Watchtower

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Keep in Mind
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7th Day Adventists and 114

• Jesus is also referred to as Michael in the
  Scriptures.
• The Spirit is essentially the same as Scripture,
  but not a Helper.
• The Gospel is one of legalistic works, following
  the Old Testament laws, although inconsistently.
  Christs atonement is not yet complete.

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7DA and other doctrines

• Historically founded by William Miller in
  mid-1800s
• Claims the writings of Ellen G. White are
  inspired interpretations
• Whites writings are equal with Scripture
• They teach soul-sleep and annihilation

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Keep in Mind
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Catholics and 114

• Jesus is viewed Scripturally, although often
  still on the cross.
• The Spirit is essentially the same as Scripture.
• The Gospel is one of legalistic works, in which
  the church is vicar of God and dispenses favor
  and salvation in a works fashion, historically
  without integrity.

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Catholics and other doctrines

• The Saints are mediators (1 Tim 25)
• Mary is co-redemptress (Acts 412)
• The Pope has special revelation authority (2
  Peter 120-21)
• Priest/Pope is vicar (1 Peter 29)
• Pedobaptism (Acts 238)
• Purgatory (2 Cor. 56-9 Heb. 927)

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Keep in Mind
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The Gospel

• a brief presentation

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The Terms

• Gospel
• Saved, Savior, Salvation
• Sin
• Repent, repentance
• Jesus
• Wrath
• Judgment
• Belief

• Election
• Grace
• Faith
• Adoption
• Confess
• Rebirth
• Calling
• Death
• Man

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The Terms, cont.

• Propitiation
• Reconciliation
• Conversion
• Regeneration
• Redemption
• Atonement
• Righteousness
• Conviction
• Sanctification

• Notitia (Intellectual)
• Intellectual understanding
• Assensus (Emotional)
• Conviction, acceptance
• Fiducia (Volitional)
• Trust, belief
• Sola Gratia
• Sola Fide

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Some Terms Defined

• Gospel Good News euangellion
• Saved protected, secured from harm or
  destruction (Ps. 38, 621-12 Rom. 109-10)
• Sin disunity with the character of God,
  disobedience (Romans 323)
• Jesus God, the Son, Whos death on the cross
  brought the opportunity of life (1
  Thess. 110)

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Some Terms Defined

• Belief Intellectual/emotional conviction of
  truth appropriated to ones motivational world
  view (Rom. 116, 43 Heb 116)
• Faith hearing God and doing what you are told
  (Hebrews 11)
• Repentance a change of heart/mind, resulting in
  a change of action (from-to) (1 Thess. 19
  Acts 1118 2 Cor. 710 2 Timothy 225)

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Some Terms Defined

• Grace unmerited favor, gift from God (Eph. 28)
• Death separation, negative relationship - ad
  infinitum
• Re-birth (Regeneration) being recreated new in
  Christ, by God (John 3, 2 Cor. 517)

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Some Terms Defined

• Reconciliation positive relationship restored
• Atonement debt covering
• Propitiation diversion of wrath
• Redemption buying back
• Any others?

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The Gospel, simply stated is the Good News of
God as regards the bad news of sin, namely that
because all men are sinners and all men sin, all
men earn the penalty of sin which is death. This
death is brought about by Gods wrath because of
His holy hatred of sin. This cannot be undone by
man, for he is dead and sinful by nature (death
cannot produce life and sin cannot produce
righteousness). Therefore, man is destitute,
hopeless in his sin, in and of himself. ( men
mankind) God, though, has provided a
replacement for men in His Son, Jesus, the
Christ, who
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became a man, uniquely perfect, without sin. He,
the perfect man, was able to take the wrath of
God in our stead, our propitiation, and bearing
God the Fathers wrath, made atonement for our
sin. His atonement singularly and fully sufficed
for the payment for all the sins of all mankind
for all time and will be applied to all who
believe by repenting, confessing and following
God in His Son, thus resulting in a reconciled
relationship with God having been reborn from
above, a child of God. Truly, we are saved from
God, by God.
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The process of Salvation must include

• A true understanding of sin
• A true understanding of God
• A conviction of sin unto God
• A crisis of faith in Jesus, the Christ, as a
  repentant act of believing God
• A resultant new person, spiritually reborn
• true does not necessitate exhaustive

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So, some incompatible and/or incomplete versions

• God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your
  life if you would just pray
• Jesus is knocking on the door of your heart, will
  you let him in(Rev 320)
• Hes dying to reach you
• If you do not want to go to Hellpray this
  prayer
• Any others?

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Mind-palette Cleanse

• Whats this?...

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What is the acrostic? In Greek
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What is the acrostic? In English
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Stirring the pot - dialog

• Three issues
• Ordo Salutis Logical/chronological succession
  of events
• Is Jesus in your heart?
• Lordship Salvation

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When do things happen?

• Culvers Chart (see Robert Duncan Culvers
  Systematic Theology)
• Categories
• Logical order
• Co-instantaneousness
• Theocentric (God centered/initiated)
• Salvation is the empowerment unto
• Belief, faith, repentance

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Is Jesus in my heart?

• Tough Passages Eph. 317 Col. 127 2 Cor.
  135 Romans 89b John 1423
• Clearer passages John 1417, 167 Rom. 89a,
  11 1 Cor. 316 2 Tim. 114
• No

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Lordship Salvation

• Defined A view of salvation that includes
  repentance and surrender to God as qualifications
  to true belief and faith in God, resulting in
  verifiable Christian works
• The opponents this view L.S. adds works
  (repentance and subsequent change of behavior)
  as pre-requisites to salvation, which is by faith
  alone.

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Lordship Salvation

• The history
• 1930s
• Lewis Sperry Chafer, He that is Spiritual,
  Carnal Christians
• B.B. Warfield, Book Review, Only one kind
• 1959
• E. Harrison Must Christ be Lord to be Savior?
  No
• John Stott - Must Christ be Lord to be Savior?
  Yes
• 1960s-1970s
• Ryrie Balancing the Christian Life, So Great a
  Salvation, no Lordship

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Lordship Salvation

• The history, continued
• 1980s to Present
• Zane Hodges The Gospel Under Siege, no lordship
• John MacArthur The Gospel According to Jesus,
  Lordship Became poster boy
• Zane Hodges Absolutely Free, NO LORDSHIP!!
• Many on both sides, a lot of emotional debate
• As far as the doctrines are concernedI am with
  the lordship guys (See Jesus and worthy of the
  Kingdom . . .)

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So, twalk amungst yaselves
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Questions about the Gospel

• What is mans greatest problem?
• How does man get sin? (become a sinner)
• Why is sin bad?
• What does God do with sin?
• Why?

• What can man do about sin?
• Is there any hope? What?
• How does one partake of this Good News?
• What effect does it have?

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Again . . .
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The process of Salvation must include

• A true understanding of sin
• A true understanding of God
• A conviction of sin unto God
• A crisis of faith in Jesus, the Christ, as a
  repentant act of believing God
• A resultant new person, spiritually reborn
• true does not necessitate exhaustive

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The Gospel, simply stated is the Good News of
God as regards the bad news of sin, namely that
because all men are sinners and all men sin, all
men earn the penalty of sin which is death. This
death is brought about by Gods wrath because of
His holy hatred of sin. This cannot be undone by
man, for he is dead and sinful by nature (death
cannot produce life and sin cannot produce
righteousness). Therefore, man is destitute,
hopeless in his sin, in and of himself. ( men
mankind) God, though, has provided a
replacement for men in His Son, Jesus, the
Christ, who
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became a man, uniquely perfect, without sin. He,
the perfect man, was able to take the wrath of
God in our stead, our propitiation, and bearing
God the Fathers wrath, made atonement for our
sin. His atonement singularly and fully sufficed
for the payment for all the sins of all mankind
for all time and will be applied to all who
believe by repenting, confessing and following
God in His Son, thus resulting in a reconciled
relationship with God having been reborn from
above, a child of God. Truly, we are saved from
God, by God.
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Keep in Mind
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We keep the truth of the Gospel in mind while we
are being SLEQ with those we are talking to.
Only the Truth of Gods Word will be our
Lighthouse while we are out in the harbor with
the world.
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Answering Biblical Questions Apologetically
Without Being Sorry
1 Peter 315
CCS Apologetics