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OBJECTIONS TO CHRISTIANITY HYPOCRITES, HELL, THE BIBLE. TOP 10 OBJECTIONS. How could a good all powerful God allow evil? How can you prove God exists? Evolution disproves Christianity Miracles are not possible so Christianity is false Truth is relative
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TOP 10 OBJECTIONS • How could a good all powerful God allow evil? • How can you prove God exists? • Evolution disproves Christianity • Miracles are not possible so Christianity is false • Truth is relative • All Christians are hypocrites so Christianity is false • How could a loving God send people to hell? • The Bible is just a book filled with errors • Jesus was just a man • Jesus can’t be the only way
“CHRISTIANS ARE HYPOCRITESSO CHRISTIANITY IS FALSE” • Inquisition • Salem witch trials • Crusades • Catholic – Protestant wars • Immoral Christians • Inconsistent Christians • Irritating Christians
UNBELIEVER’S ERRORS • Arbitrary – unjustified belief • Opinion • Unargued worldview bias • Prejudicial conjecture • Inconsistent – cannot live their worldview • Behavioral • Logical • Preconditions for knowledge – no justification • Uniformity of nature • Laws of logic • Reliability of our senses • Reliability of our memory • Universal moral standard
APOLOGETIC METHOD“THE CERTAINTY OF THE FAITH”R.B. RAMSAY • Demonstrate interest • Explain your faith • Furnish answers • Expose their presuppositions – worldview • How do you know that? • Why do you believe that? • “Ask Them Why”, Jay Lucas • Navigate through his errors: A – I – P • Direct him to Christ
LOGICAL FALLACY • Trivial objection: focus attention on some point other than the main issue • Genetic fallacy: dismissing an argument because you object to the source of the argument. • Christian worldview is the issue, not Christians
INCONSISTENCY • All people are hypocrites • Christians are redeemed, not glorified • Christianity impact against disease, ignorance, abuse, inequality, slavery, infanticide, immorality • Lenin, Stalin, Mussolini, Hitler, Mao Tse Tung, Pol Pot, Saddam Hussein
PRECONDITIONS FOR MORALITY • Hypocrites by what standard of morality? • Universal absolute moral standard requires the Christian Triune God
“HOW COULD A LOVING GOD SEND PEOPLE TO HELL” • People’s nature • Seriousness of sin • God’s nature
All People After the Fall: Total Depravity & Death • Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned Romans 5:12 (ESV) • “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. Romans 3:10-11 (ESV) • for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23 (ESV) • For the wages of sin is death, Romans 6:23 (ESV)
All People After the Fall:Flawed Thinking • For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Romans 8:7 (ESV) • The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Cor 2:14 (ESV) • in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. Eph 4:17-18 (ESV)
All People After the Fall • Every human from conception has a sin nature that separates them from the One Triune God. • Every human from conception is helpless, depraved, lost, and deserves God’s judgment. • For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. Romans 1:18 (ESV) • If allowed by God to develop, all people add personal sin to their sin nature. • No human on their own will or can choose to confess, repent, obey, and love God. • Every human has only one hope: Jesus Christ
GOD’S NATURE • Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” Gen 18:25 (ESV) • 3 For I will proclaim the name of the Lord; ascribe greatness to our God! 4 “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he. Deut 32:3-4 (ESV) • For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (ESV)
“THE BIBLE IS JUST A BOOK FILLED WITH ERRORS” • All worldviews have a final authority • Christian worldview’s final authority is the One Personal Triune God and His written verbal communication, the Bible • “I believe in order that I may understand” • Faith has it’s reasons – not arbitrary • The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge Prov 1:7 (ESV)
Creator – creature Distinction • For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Col 1:16-17 (ESV) • One Triune Creator Personal Sovereign God • Independent Infinite Authority • Creation • Dependent Finite Submissive
REASONS THE BIBLE IS GOD’S WORD • It says it is – it justifies itself – final authority • Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 6 Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar. Prov 30:5-6 (ESV) • The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever. Psalms 119:160 (ESV)
REASONS THE BIBLE IS GOD’S WORD • The One Triune God is it’s author • All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness 2 Tim 3:16 (ESV) • knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:20-21 (ESV)
REASONS THE BIBLE IS GOD’S WORD • The Holy Spirit confirms it to believers • Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. 1 Cor 2:12-13 (ESV)
REASONS THE BIBLE IS GOD’S WORD • The Lord Jesus Christ affirmed that it is • Septuagint: 250 BC, Greek translation of OT • Dead Sea Scrolls: 130 BC, Hebrew texts from every OT book except Ester • Massoretic Text: 900 AD, complete OT Hebrew • For truly, I say to you,until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Matt 5:18 (ESV)
REASONS THE BIBLE IS GOD’S WORD • New Testament is pure, authentic, reliable • Written by apostles or associates – eyewitnesses • >5,000 Greek manuscripts • >10,000 Latin Vulgate copies, Jerome 405 AD • >9,000 other translation copies • Earliest fragment: 114 AD • Complete N.T.: 325 AD • Early church leaders: >32,000 N.T. quotations
REASONS THE BIBLE IS GOD’S WORD • Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would guide the apostles • “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you.26But theHelper, the Holy Spirit,whom the Father will send in my name,he will teach you all things andbring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. John 14:25-26 (ESV)
REASONS THE BIBLE IS GOD’S WORD • Clear and consistent message • 40 writers, 1600 years, three languages • I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” • Gen 3:15 (ESV) • “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!26Was it not necessary thatthe Christ should suffer these things and enter intohis glory?”27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:25-27 (ESV)
REASONS THE BIBLE IS GOD’S WORD • Hundreds of fulfilled prophecies • Validated by archeology • The nation of Israel • Consistent with reality • Changed lives
REASONS THE BIBLE IS GOD’S WORD • The preconditions for knowledge require it • Rational reasoning – laws of logic • Operational science – uniformity of nature • Reliable observation – reliability of our senses • Useable knowledge – reliable memory • Moral values and duties – require a universal absolute moral standard
APOLOGETIC GOALS • Defend the Christian faith – your words and life • Pray for persuasion – HOLY SPIRIT • And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. 14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Cor 2:13-14 (ESV)
DIRECT THEM TO CHRIST • “I amthe way, andthe truth, andthe life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 (ESV) • For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (ESV) • if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 (ESV) • For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Eph 2:8-9 (ESV)