PRACTICING EUANGELLION AND APOLOGETICS

1. PRACTICING EUANGELLION AND APOLOGETICS

2. Frederick Buechner: It is not the objective proof of God’s existence that we want but the experience of God’s presence. That is the miracle we are really after, and that is also, I think, the miracle that we really get.

3. WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?

4. ευαγγελιον: “good news” (noun) • ευ =good, to farewell, to prosper • ἄγγελος = fr.angelos, messenger, angel. (euangelion) • εὐαγγελίζω: “to bring good news” (verb). Is a favorite of Luke-Acts (25xs vs 27xs in NT) (euangelizo) • εὐαγγελιστής: “messanger of good news” (noun). Acts (1) and Ephesians (1) and Timothy (1). (euangelistes) Evangelism, Evangelist and Evangelize are cognates of Evangel (Gospel).

5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eL9jDcBKgC4

6. “Before we can begin to see the cross as something done for us, we have to see it as something done by us." John Stott

7. So when we talk about “Evangelism” we are talking about gospel messengersgospelinghumanityto the Gospel.

8. ‘Gospel’ is the root word for evangelism, evangelist, and evangelize (euangelion, euangelizo, euangelistes). ‘Gospel’ is the message that is being defended in the apologetics. ‘Gospel’ is central to understanding and connecting to everything in this class.

9. What effect was the Gospel supposed to have on people?

11. Two Kinds of People “Pharisees” “Tax Collectors and Sinners” Younger Brother People who have thrown off traditional morality. Left Iowa and Indiana and moved to San Francisco. Rejected traditional faith, values … Elder Brother • Stayed home • Obedient • Goes to church • Orthodox, traditional, religious and moral. From Tim Keller, Prodigal God

13. Two Approaches to God Moralistic Grid Relativistic Grid Younger Brother I have to follow my heart not the rules. If there is a God what he would want us to do is find out what our heart really wants and follow that. Divides world into free spirits and judgmental, open-minded and bigots. Elder Brother • I find God by obeying God’s law. • Set some standards and obey them • Divides world into moral and immoral, good and bad, decent and licentious. From Tim Keller, Prodigal God

14. Jesus deconstructs both views Moralistic Relativistic Younger brother’s personal freedom and open-mindedness ends in emptiness and a pig-pen. Doesn’t have all the fun that he thinks its going to be. • Alienated from the Father too. • Father has to go out to get him too! • He never comes into the feast. From Tim Keller, Prodigal God

15. Gospel understanding of Sin Younger Brother Older Brother “Father, why are you giving him the fatted calf, the ring, the robe … I have slaved for you and never left and obeyed you. ” All he wants is inheritance. In other words, “I want your stuff not you.” • “Father, I want my inheritance.” • All he wants is inheritance. • In other words, “I want your stuff not you.” Sin is building your life on anything that gives you meaning or hope other than God. Which can be done inside or outside of religion. From Tim Keller, Prodigal God

16. Sign of Elder Brother ‘Lostness’ What does this mean? • A sense of Entitlement. (vs 28) • Joyless mechanical obedience. (vs29) • Coldness to younger brother types. • Lack of assurance of the Father’s Love. • Unforgiving Judgmental spirit. From Tim Keller, Prodigal God

17. The Differences1 Religion Gospel I’m accepted therefore I obey I obey God to delight in and resemble God. When things go wrong, I struggle, but I know all my punishment fell on Jesus …God is working this for good. • I obey, therefore I am accepted. • I obey God to get things from God • When things go wrong I am angry at God or myself (I believe everyone who is good deserves a comfortable life.) Tim Keller, Gospel in Life.

18. The Differences1 Religion Gospel When I am criticized I am criticized I struggle but it is not essential for me to think I am a “good person.” My identity is built on God’s love for me in Christ. My prayer life consists of generous stretches of praise and adoration—I am really grateful. • When I am criticized I am furious or devastated because I am a good person and threats to that self image must be destroyed. • My prayer life consists of petitions and my main purpose of prayer is to control my environment. Tim Keller, Gospel in Life.

19. The Differences1 Religion Gospel My self-view is not based on my moral achievement. In Christ I am simul iustus et peccator—simultaneously sinful and lost, yet accepted in Christ. I am so bad that he had to die for me. This leads to deep humility and confidence at the same time. • My self-view swings between two poles. If and when I am living up to my standards I am confident, but then I am prone to be proud and unsympathetic to failing people. If and when I am not living up to the standards I feel humble but not confident—like a failure. Tim Keller, Gospel in Life.

20. What is the Gospel? • We need the Father to come to us! • Younger Brother: Father running out to embrace the younger brother … before he confesses the Father kisses him. • Elder Brother: Father comes out and reasons. • We need to repent not just of our sins but of our self-righteousness. • See the cost of the Father’s salvation Tim Keller, Prodigal God

22. There really is no “Other” in one’s Gospel Identity.

23. "the simple gospel” (1) God made you and wants to have a relationship with you, (2) but your sin separates you from God. (3) Jesus took the punishment your sins deserved, (4) so if you repent from sins and trust in him for your salvation, you will be forgiven, justified, and accepted freely by grace, and indwelt with his Spirit until you die and go to heaven.

24. 1. No one in the New Testament really preaches this gospel.2. This gospel is about one thing: humans gaining access to God's presence.3. This gospel creates an individualist Christian life.4. This gospel sets the tone for the entire evangelical movement.5. This gospel leads to spiritual formation being entirely about "me and God."6. The evangelical gospel has created a need for evangelical monasteries.7. The evangelical gospels turns the local church into a volunteer society that is unnecessary.8. The evangelical gospel is rooted in Theism or Deism, but not the Trinity.

25. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. --Ephesians 6 (NIV)

26. There are at least two major criticisms of this view Too individualistic. No one “simple gospel” “Like God, the gospel is both one and more than that.” —Tim Keller

27. GOSPEL

28. The Gospel has a fullness of meaning. • The Gospel has at least three aspects.

29. Mark 1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  2As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY; 3THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.’” 4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

30. Mark 1:9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; 11 and a voice came out of the heavens: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”

31.  Mark 114 Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

32. The Gospel • News of the King and his victories . • “YHWH Breaking into History with salvation.” • (Keller: Historical/Doctrinal) • Citizenship in the Kingdom. • Status (justification) • Identity (Keller: sonship) • The Kingdom’s values (Reversal of values) • (Keller: Kingdom) • Newbigin and Wright call this the Eschatological aspect

33. Gospel1: News of the King • Is primarily news about what God has done for us in Jesus Christ not primarily advice on how to live. • Nutshell: "Jesus Christ lived the life you should have lived, died the death you should have died so that God can receive you not for your record and your sake but for Jesus record and Jesus sake.”

34. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. (Romans 1)

35. We are fallen … D S ead ins You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. A lienated T ransgressions Ephesians 2:1-3 1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.

36. 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 1 Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and in which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

37. What then is the epicenter of the Gospel? • Jesus is King, come to earth in human form. • His death atoned for our sins and broke the dominion of evil. • His resurrection reveals to us how God will destroy corruption and renew the entire material creation. • “Like God, the gospel is both one and more than that.”—Tim Keller

38. RESPONSE HISTORICAL FACTS RESULTS 1. “Jesus died for our sins.” according to the Scriptures… Evidence: He was buried. 2. “Jesus rose from the dead.” according to the Scriptures… Evidence: He was seen.

39. RESPONSE HISTORICAL FACTS RESULTS 1. “Jesus died for our sins.” Forgiveness! according to the Scriptures… Evidence: He was buried. 2. “Jesus rose from the dead.” New Life! according to the Scriptures… Evidence: He was seen.

40. RESPONSE HISTORICAL FACTS RESULTS 1. “Jesus died for our sins.” Repent! Forgiveness! according to the Scriptures… Evidence: He was buried. 2. “Jesus rose from the dead.” New Life! according to the Scriptures… Evidence: He was seen.

41. Responding to the Gospel involves a change of mind, not of life; it may be accompanied by emotion, but does not require it.

42. RESPONSE HISTORICAL FACTS RESULT 1. “Jesus died for our sins.” Repent! Forgiveness! according to the Scriptures… Evidence: He was buried. Be baptized! 2. “Jesus rose from the dead.” New Life! Believe! according to the Scriptures… Evidence: He was seen.

43. Gospel2: Citizenship in the Kingdom • This is the identity aspect of the Gospel. • A status you receive now not just a reward you receive later.

45. Gospel2: Citizenship in the Kingdom • Nutshell: "You are more wicked and flawed than you ever dared believe. YET more loved and accepted than you ever dared hope at the same time” As Christians we know that here we have no continuing city, that crowns roll in the dust and every earthly kingdom must sometimes flounder. Whereas we acknowledge a king men did not crown and cannot dethrone, as we are citizens of a city of God they did not build and cannot destroy. --Malcolm Muggeridge

46. Gospel3: Kingdom’s Values • The Gospel is good news of the Kingdom and the Kingdom is an eschatological concept. • The Gospel is a completely upending and reversal of values NOT just strength to live out the old values. • Its received in reversal of the worlds values. • Its achieved in reversal to the world's values • Therefore, it reunites in reversal of the old values

47. Gospel3: Kingdom’s Values • Nutshell: The way up is down, the way to gain power is to give lose power, way to become rich is to give it away.” I can say that I never knew what joy was like until I gave up pursuing happiness, or cared to live until I chose to die. For these two discoveries I am beholden to Jesus.--Malcolm Muggeridge

48. The Gospel • News of the King and his victories . • Citizenship in the Kingdom. • Status • Identity • The Kingdom’s values (Reversal of values and living presently in a future Kingdom)

50. Hello _________, A eternity of torment is forever. If you have not accepted God, please do so today. As he is real and alive, you need to realize this. The following prayer can save you or someone that you love. Say, “Oh God, save my soul. I’m so sorry that I have sinned against you, but I have come home. I will serve you, Lord, the rest of my life. Deliver me from all my sinful habits. Set me free!