|
 Notes
taken by Fritha Demme
in the class entitled:
Apologetics
I Peter 3:15 …being
ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the
hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear…
“Apologia” – answer
or defense for your faith
What do I believe and
why?
--Defending
my faith without being on the defensive
--Being
able to explain to Christians and non-Christians
Numbers 16:46 stay the
plague and stand between the living and the dead
--The
plague of unbelief – it is our job to stand and stop the plague
--The
fire of God’s presence and that of His Word
--Add
incense – our own experiences, faith, prayers, and testimony
You can present all the
evidence that exists, but if people will not submit their wills to God, then
they will not be swayed. Learn the evidence so that you can answer heart
questions, but do not take the responsibility of the Holy Spirit to move someone’s
heart.
Contrasting World-views--
Man/Atheism: Man’s
Ideas: Evolution: No Morals: Natural: Self: Dark: Death: Hell
God: Revealed Truth:
Creation: Morals: Spiritual: Servant Love: Light: Life: Heaven
Four Kinds of Knowledge
A.
Scientific
a.
Senses—Observations of the Physical World
b.
How things happen?
c.
Experimental Method
d.
Surface Observations
B.
Philosophical
a.
Reasoning—Thinking
b.
Abstract—Why?—Not dependent on Observation and Details
C.
Historical
a.
Records as to what Happened
b.
Accuracy and Interpretation
c.
What happened?
D.
Religious
a.
Revelation—Outside thinking or Observation
b.
Faith—beyond man’s ability (NOT credulity)
Jesus
Christ is the Son of God; He rose from the dead!
- Legal
evidence test
- Jesus
own statements—liar, lunatic or Lord (not a good moral teacher)
- Martyrdom
of disciples—sealed their own testimony with their blood
Experimental Method
Theory—Hypotheses—Prove it
To prove it as
scientific, it must be:
- Repeatable
Others
must be able to do the same experiment and get the same result.
- Observable
Must
be able to see it or measure it
- Falsifiable
Must
be able to design an experiment that, if true, would prove the theory false
There Are
Absolute Truths
(Something
that applies to everyone)
For example:
- Up,
Down; Right, Left; Measurements
- Mathematics—not
relative or tied to geography
- Science—gravity,
laws of physics
- Human
nature & moral law
- Life,
pain, fear & death
There
is a Heaven and Hell
1.
Last words of dying people
2.
Clinically dead & brought back to life—testimony
“God, the perpetual
novelty” –Ravi Zacharias
(The older we get the
harder it is to awe us; God is up to the task)
Doctrines—Teachings
- Virgin
Birth
- Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: behold, a virgin shall
conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
- Matthew 1:23
Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, And
they shall call his name Immanuel; which is, being interpreted, God with
us.
- Luke 1:27
to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of
David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
- Galatians 4:4
but when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a
woman, born under the law,
- Trinity
- Genesis 1:26
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let
them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the
heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every
creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
- Genesis 11:7
Come, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not
understand one another's speech.
- Isaiah 6:3
And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is Jehovah of
hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
- John 14:23
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my word:
and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode
with him.
- John 14:26
But the Comforter, even the Holy
Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all
things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you.
- John 15:23-26
He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
(24) If I had not done among them
the works which none other did, they had not had sin: but now have they
both seen and hated both me and my Father.
(25) But this
cometh to pass, that the word may be fulfilled that is written
in their law, They hated me without a cause. (26) But when the
Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even
the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall bear
witness of me:
- 1John 5:6-7
This is he that came by water and blood, even
Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the
blood. (7)
And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is the
truth.
- Matthew 3:13-17
Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan unto John, to be baptized of
him. (14)
But John would have hindered him, saying, I have need to be baptized of
thee, and comest thou to me? (15)
But Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it
now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he
suffereth him. (16) And Jesus when he
was baptized, went up straightway from the water: and lo, the heavens were
opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and
coming upon him; (17)
and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son,
in whom I am well pleased.
- Matthew 28:19
Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them
into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit:
- John 10:30
I and the Father are one.
- John 17:21
that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art
in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us: that the world may
believe that thou didst send me.
- 1Corinthians 2:11
For who among men knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man,
which is in him? even so the things of God none knoweth, save the Spirit
of God.
- 2Corinthians 13:14
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion
of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
- 1Peter 1:2
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the
Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace
to you and peace be multiplied.
- Original
Writings vs. King James Version only debate
- Eternal
Security of the Believer
- John 3:36
He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not
the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.
- John 5:24
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth him
that sent me, hath eternal life, and cometh not into judgment, but hath
passed out of death into life.
- 1Corinthians 15:2
by which also ye are saved, if ye hold fast the word which I preached unto
you, except ye believed in vain.
- Colossians 1:21-23
And you, being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in your
evil works, (22)
yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to
present you holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him:
(23)
if so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and
not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was
preached in all creation under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister.
- 1Timothy 1:19
holding faith and a good conscience; which some having thrust from them
made shipwreck concerning the faith:
- 1Timothy 4:1
But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away
from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons,
- 1Timothy 4:16
Take heed to thyself, and to thy teaching. Continue in these things; for
in doing this thou shalt save both thyself and them that hear thee.
- 2Timothy 4:14
Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord will render to him
according to his works:
- Hebrews 6:4-6
For as touching those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly
gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit,
(5) and tasted the good word of
God, and the powers of the age to come,
(6) and then
fell away, it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance; seeing
they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open
shame.
- 2Peter 2:20-21
For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the
knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled
therein and overcome, the last state is become worse with them than the
first. (21)
For it were better for them not to have known the way of righteousness,
than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered
unto them.
- Revelation 3:5
He that overcometh shall thus be arrayed in white garments; and I will in
no wise blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name
before my Father, and before his angels.
- Reception
of the Holy Spirit
- Luke 11:13
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children,
how much more shall your heavenly
Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
- John 14:15-18
If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments.
(16) And I will pray the Father,
and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may be with you for ever,
(17) even
the Spirit of truth: whom the world cannot receive; for it beholdeth him
not, neither knoweth him: ye know him; for he abideth with you, and shall
be in you. (18)
I will not leave you desolate: I come unto you.
- John 16:7
Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away;
for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I go, I
will send him unto you.
- Acts 19:2
and he said unto them, Did ye receive the Holy Spirit when ye believed?
And they said unto him, Nay, we did
not so much as hear whether the Holy Spirit was given.
- Acts 8:14-17
Now when the apostles that were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had
received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
(15) who, when they were come down,
prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit: (16) for as yet it was
fallen upon none of them: only they had been baptized into the name of the
Lord Jesus. (17)
Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
- Homosexuality
- Leviticus 18:22
Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
- Leviticus 20:13
And if a man lie with mankind, as with womankind, both of them have
committed abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood
shall be upon them.
- Deuteronomy 23:17
There shall be no prostitute of the daughters of Israel, neither shall
there be a sodomite of the sons of Israel.
- 1Kings 14:24
and there were also sodomites in the land: they did according to all the
abominations of the nations which Jehovah drove out before the children of
Israel.
- Romans 1:27
and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in
their lust one toward another, men with men working unseemliness, and
receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was due.
- 1Corinthians 6:9-11
Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?
Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor
effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men,
(10) nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor
extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
(11) And such were some of you: but
ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name
of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.
- 1Timothy 1:10
for fornicators, for abusers of themselves with men, for menstealers, for
liars, for false swearers, and if there be any other thing contrary to the
sound doctrine;
- Revelation 21:8
But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and
fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part shall
be in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is
the second death.
- Revelation 22:15
Without are the dogs, and the sorcerers, and the fornicators, and the
murderers, and the idolaters, and every one that loveth and maketh a lie.
- The primary lie is men are born this way
i.
Even if it were
true, that does not make it right, i.e. someone could be born with the genetic
inclination to murder or steal but society prevents him from carrying out his
desires.
ii.
There is no
compelling evidence that homosexuality is caused by biological makeup.
iii.
There is
compelling evidence that homosexuality is developed through environmental
factors.
- Abortion
- Exodus 21:22
And if men strive together, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit
depart, and yet no harm follow; he shall be surely fined, according as the
woman's husband shall lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges
determine. (In the Hebrew “no harm follow” refers to the “fruit”,
not to the mother. Also when “woman with child” is used, “child”
is the same word that is used to refer to a child outside of the womb)
- Genesis 9:6
Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: For in the
image of God made he man.
- Job 31:15
Did not he that made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us
in the womb?
- Psalms 139:13-16
For thou didst form my inward parts: Thou didst cover me in my mother's
womb. (14)
I will give thanks unto thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:
Wonderful are thy works; And that my soul knoweth right well.
(15) My frame was not hidden from
thee, When I was made in secret, And
curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
(16) Thine eyes did see mine
unformed substance; And in thy book they were all written, Even
the days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was none of them.
- Ecclesiastes 11:5
As thou knowest not what is the way of the wind, nor
how the bones do grow in the womb
of her that is with child; even so thou knowest not the work of God who
doeth all.
- Isaiah 44:2
Thus saith Jehovah that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, who will
help thee: Fear not, O Jacob my servant; and thou, Jeshurun, whom I have
chosen.
- Isaiah 49:1
Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye peoples, from far: Jehovah hath
called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention
of my name:
- Isaiah 49:5
And now saith Jehovah that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to
bring Jacob again to him, and that Israel be gathered unto him (for I am
honorable in the eyes of Jehovah, and my God is become my strength);
- Jeremiah 1:5
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee, and before thou camest
forth out of the womb I sanctified thee; I have appointed thee a prophet
unto the nations.
- Luke 1:15
For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and he shall drink no wine
nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from
his mother's womb.
- Luke 1:41, 44 And
it came to pass, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe
leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit; (44)
For behold, when the voice of thy salutation came into mine ears, the babe
leaped in my womb for joy. (In the Greek “babe” is the same word used
for a baby outside of the womb)
Evidence
for Faith
by Josh
McDowell
Who am I?
Why am I here?
Where am I going?
*Not religion, but a
relationship
Main
Intellectual Proofs
- The
Resurrection
- Jesus
as the Son of God
Common
Misconceptions About Christianity
- Christian
faith a mere set of beliefs
- Based
on blind faith
- Subjective
faith (whatever you believe is okay, as long as it is sincere)
- No
historical basis
- Cannot
prove it scientifically (vs. historical evidence)
How do we know
there is a supernatural God?
·
Intelligent design
·
Answers to prayer
·
The Bible
·
Common set of ethics
·
Supernatural events through
history
·
Transformed lives
My
testimony is the best answer.
The
Bible is unique.
- Different
from all others; having no like or equal
- Continuity
- Diversity
of authors
- Written
over centuries
- Coverage—printed
more than any book
- Translations—into
the languages spoken by 95% of the people of the world
- Survival
through time—unparalleled number of manuscripts
- Most
in world (24,000)
- Second
in world is Homer’s Iliad (643)
- Survival
through persecution
- Survival
through criticism—archeological confirmation
- Hittite
- Ebla
- Textual
Criticism
- Bibliographical
i.
Only a gap of eighty years between writing and first manuscript of New
Testament
ii.
Unprecedented number of manuscripts
- Internal
evidence
i.
The benefit of the doubt is to be given to the manuscript
ii.
The nearness of the witness, both chronologically and geographically, to
the event—the greater the accuracy
iii.
Most seeming contradictions have been resolved through further
understanding of the context
- External
evidence
i.
Other historical material confirms or denies manuscript
ii.
Fulfillment of prophecy indicates accuracy
- Fulfilled
Prophecy
- Archeological
Evidence
- A
Christian's Personal Testimony—cannot be argued with—very powerful
Ten Reasons Why I
Believe the Bible is Reliable
by R. A. Torrey
- On
the ground of the testimony of Jesus Christ
- On
the ground of the fulfilled prophecies
- On
the ground of the unity of the Book
- On
the ground of the immeasurable superiority of the teaching of the Bible over
all other books
- On
the ground of the history of the Book and its survival through attack
- On
the ground of the character of those who accept and those who reject the
Bible
- On
the ground of the influence of the Book
- On
the ground of the inexhaustible depth of the Book
- On
the ground of the fact that as we grow in knowledge and holiness we grow
towards the Bible
- On
the ground of the direct testimony of the Holy Spirit
Ravi Zacharias
Three ways of
determining truth:
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