Apologetics Series – Summer 2023

WHY YOUR FAITH MATTERS

Why talk about deep questions?

Why try to understand others’ points of view?

Does God exist?

1. The universe had a beginning – cosmological argument – the beginning of the universe points to a beginner
   
2. The fine-tuning of the universe – points to a fine-tuner
   
3. DNA – the amount of info in one cell is the equivalent of 500,000 movies – a book points toward the author
   The information points to the author of life
   
4. The moral argument – objective moral values – CS Lewis – Across cultures, universally, there are common principles that everybody knows and lives as if they are true.
   moral law points to a moral law giver
   
5. The resurrection of Jesus Christ – points to God entering human history
   Jesus claimed to be God in human flesh
   He died on the cross
   The tomb is empty
   There are radical accounts of Jesus appearing alive
   Witnesses were willing to die for their convictions

Do all roads lead to God?

• What is a road? – a path to get from point A to B
• Every religion has a path – those paths are very different
• The path is different and the destination is different
• Jesus is the only way to get to God because He is the only one who fixed the problem – sin
  All other religions don’t address the problem
  

Biblical validity

• What makes the Bible special?
  • The Bible is the most read, most translated, and most copied book in history
  • The Bible was written by at least 40 authors
    • Different time periods and places 
    • Over 1500 years
  • Survived criticism and persecution
  • It’s changed more lives than any book 
  • It records miracles 
  • It talks about salvation

• Is the Old Testament historically reliable?
  • Is there evidence outside of the book in archeology?
  • The precision of the scriptures – the care taken to copy exactly what a manuscript said – trained scribes – no errors allowed – 
  • Look at the teachings of Jesus – He believed it is reliable – 

• Is the New Testament Historically reliable?
  • Does it claim to be true? Internal evidence test – Luke 1:1-4 – the authors claim to be eyewitnesses, accurate information
  • The bibliographical test – how early and how many manuscripts
    • Within 40-50 years of the events 
    • 40,000 to 50,000 copies
  • External evidence test
    • Writings outside the Bible 
    • Archeology – places, people, claims

Where in scripture does Jesus actually claim to be God? How do we know that is what He meant?

• John 14:8-11
• John 5:18
• John 8:58-59 – Exodus 3:14
• John 10:30-33
• Mark 14:61-62 – Daniel 7:13-14
• Mark 2:5-7, Luke 5:20
• Matthew 11:27
  • Ten times in Matthew, Jesus corrected misunderstandings of the law or overruled Jewish custom by his own authority, saying, “You have heard that it was said . . . But I tell you” (see, for example, Matthew 5:22, 27–28, 31–32).
    

Messianic prophesies Jesus fulfilled:

• Messiah is to be born in Bethlehem.
  See Micah 5:2; fulfilled in Matt. 2:1-7; John 7:42; Luke 2:4-7
• Messiah is to be preceded by a Messenger.
  See Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1; fulfilled in Matthew 3:1-3; 11:10; John 1:23; Luke 1:17
• Messiah is to enter Jerusalem on a donkey.
  See Zechariah 9:9; fulfilled in Luke 35-37; Matthew 21:6-11
• Messiah is to be betrayed by a friend.
  See Psalms 41:9; 55:12-14; fulfilled in Matthew 10:4; 26:49-50; John 13:21
• Messiah is to be sold for 30 pieces of silver.
  See Zechariah 11:12; fulfilled in Matthew 26:15; 27:3
• The money for which Messiah is sold is to be thrown “to the potter” in God’s house.
  See Zechariah 11:13; fulfilled in Matthew 27:5-7
• Messiah is to be born of a virgin.
  See Isaiah 7:14; fulfilled in Matthew 1:18-2:1; Luke 1:26-35
• Messiah is to be hated without cause.
  See Isaiah 49:7; Psalm 69:5; fulfilled in John 15:24-25
• Messiah is to be silent before His accusers.
  See Isaiah 53:7; fulfilled in Matthew 27:12
• Messiah is to be executed by crucifixion, by having His hands and feet pierced.
  See Psalm 22:16; fulfilled in John 19:28
• Messiah is to be given vinegar to quench His thirst.
  See Psalm 69:21; fulfilled in Matthew 27:34
• Messiah is to be executed without having a bone broken.
  See Exodus 12:46; Psalm 34:21; fulfilled in John 19:33-36
• Messiah is to be buried with the rich when dead.
  See Isaiah 53:9; fulfilled in Matthew 27:57-60
• Messiah is to be raised from the dead.
  See Isaiah 53:9-10; Psalm 2:7; 16:10; fulfilled in Matthew 28:1-20; Acts 2:23-36;13;33-37; 1 Corinthians 11:4-6
• Messiah is to be executed by crucifixion as a thief.
  See Psalm 22:16; Zechariah 12:10; Isaiah 53:5, 12; fulfilled in Luke 23:33; John 20:25; Matthew 27:38; Mark 5:27, 28

How does a good God allow suffering?

• What is evil?
  • A thing or the absence of something?
• Does evil being present mean there is no God?
• Could God have created a world without evil?
  • Yes but does that mean a better world?
  • If he forced everyone to do good then there is no freedom to choose 
• Hebrews 9:27
•  

Three Messages From Suffering

In suffering there is also a message of compassion. Jesus said, “For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me” (Matthew 25:35–36).

In suffering there is a message of unity. Isaac’s twin sons, Jacob and Esau, had been feuding and fighting. But when Isaac died, they came to bury him. Because of their father’s death, the two sons came together.

Jesus prayed “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You” (John 17:21). And that’s the way we ought to be as Christians, one in Christ. If you have been born into the family of God, you are a child of God. You are brothers and sisters.

Suffering holds a message of comfort. In 2 Corinthians we read:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
—2 Corinthians 1:3–4

Because tragedy happened to you, it gives you a greater sense of oneness with others who experience tragedy. You can feel for them in that suffering situation. Because we have been comforted through the Word of God, we in turn may be able to comfort others.

The Christian’s Reaction to Suffering

First, it should be one of worship. We ought to say, “O God, I believe You are the great and mighty God. I don’t understand all the things that are happening in my life, but, O God, I trust in You.”
Second, we should ask God to teach us all He would have us learn about Him, about ourselves, about others, and how we can minister to those who are suffering.

Third, our attitude in suffering should glorify God. People are going to watch us as Christians. They will ask, “How is it that Christ is so in control of his or her life that he or she was able to help others?”

John 11:1-46 – story of Lazarus

1. Your suffering does not indicate a lack of love on Jesus’ part.
2. For those in Christ, your suffering does not end in death
3. Our suffering is a part of the grand beautiful story God is telling
   
   

1)    How can the belief in God be reconciled with science‐ especially evolution?

a.     It must be made known that Evolution is a theory of existence, not a fact. Evolution, like religion, is a faith system based on what is believed to be true. However, evolution, like religion is not a question that science can fully explore. Science can add support and weight to an argument, but ultimately we are left to a belief based on the weight of evidence. Therefore, religion is not in opposition to science, nor is science on the side of evolution.

b.     Evolution does not fully explain how the evolution process has worked over billions of years and significant suspicion results from gaps in the sequence. These gaps include the fossil record, transitional species and the jump to punctuated equilibrium.

c.      Creationists hold that modifications within a certain species, (micro‐evolution) is possible. However adaptations between species (macro‐evolution), is rejected. Creationists also ask the question, ‘where did the first/necessary cause come from in the evolution equation?”

d.     Even Darwin himself had his own doubts. In his book Origin of Species, he stated, “If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, then my theory would absolutely break down.” At the end of his life, he verbally admitted that he was not sure if his theories were true.

1)    What about those who have never heard?

This is a tough question. Why have some people never heard?   The sin of generations previous has lead people away from the truth so that a testimony for Christ does not exist within a people group. Therefore, though God wishes everyone come to a saving knowledge of Himself, man, in his rebellion, has kept that from happening. Is God powerless in such people groups? No, of course not. Today we hear of miracles as we have seen throughout all history where God reveals Himself to people in un‐reached people groups so that they can have an adequate saving knowledge of His son. Yet, we see in the Bible that the sins of generations previous will have an effect on future generations, not that it is God’s desire, but in his divine wisdom, he has allowed man to make such choices and have such an impact in generations to follow. Will God hold man responsible for his sin? He certainly will and must. Does He desire all to come to a knowledge of Himself? This is also certainly true. How do the two exist in a culture where there is no effective testimony for Christ?

Fairness is not a quality of God’s character. Justice, mercy, grace, and holiness, these are all qualities of God. Were He fair…none of us would enter the paradise of Heaven….none of us deserve entrance, and so fairness would preclude such. Thank God that He is not fair.

2)    What’s the difference between Protestants and Catholics?

a.    Catholics require an intercessor to communicate with God‐ priests or saints to pray through for forgiveness of sins. Protestants believe that Christ himself is the great high priest and you can communicate directly with Him.

b.   Catholicism put an emphasis on Mary, the mother of Jesus. Mary is thought of as a mediator between God and man.  They elevate her to sinless perfection status.

c. Catholicism suggests that good works or sacraments might decrease the time spent in purgatory, paying for their sins before they can enter into heaven. Protestants believe Jesus paid the price for all sin and that people are seen as blameless before the Lord when they profess faith in Christ.

d.    At the Vatican, the Pope was given authority as a mouthpiece for God, his words are considered revelation on the same lines as Biblical scripture.

3)    Can you be sure if you are going to Heaven?

a.     Yes. “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9) God’s Word is Truth, so if you truly believe Christ is Lord, then you can truly believe He has saved you.

b.     Our relationship with Christ is based firstly on fact, followed by faith and then feeling. As the 4‐ Spiritual Laws book says, “We as Christians do not depend on feelings or emotions, but we place our faith (trust) in the trustworthiness of God and the promises of His Word.”

c.      “I write these things to those of you that believe in the name of the son of God, in order that you may

know that you have eternal life.” 1 John 5:11

d.     If it were up to us…no, there would be no certainty. However, Christianity is not based on our work, but the work of a savior who brought redemption between man and God. If it were up to us, we could never make it, but if it’s up to Him, we can be sure!