Giving an Answer: Proof

1. Transcendental Arguments • Science – without the God of the Bible, I can’t explain why there is a uniformity of nature (e.g. laws of nature). • Genesis 8:22 - While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease • Christ Himself upholds the universe through the physical laws He ordained • Colossians 1:16–17 • Hebrews 1:3 Science Logic • Morals – without the God of the Bible, I have no basis to assume morality exists • Logic – without the God of the Bible, I have no basis to ground abstract principles such as laws of logic and mathematics. • Why the God of the Bible? • The Bible specifically provides the foundation for each of these, and grounds them in the triune God Yahweh • No other religion with a personal God provides this foundation • Any that seem to come close are merely Christian deviations, and will be found to be inconsistent with the Bible, to which they are linked Morals Giving an Answer: Proof

2. Cosmological 1. Whatever begins to exist has a cause. 2. The Universe began to exist. 3. Therefore, the Universe had a cause. Teleological If something looks designed, the most plausible explanation is that it is designed Paley (watch on the beach) Moral 1. Premise: If God does not exist, then objective moral values do not exist. 2. Premise: Objective values do exist. 3. Conclusion: Therefore, God exists. 1. Some aspect of Morality (e.g., its objective force) is observed. (Moral realism) 2. Existence of God provides a better explanation of this feature than various alternatives. 3. Therefore, to the extent that (1) is accepted, belief in God is preferable to these alternatives Classical Arguments Cosmological Teleological Moral Giving an Answer: Proof

3. "It is our duty to endeavor always to promote the general good; to do to all as we would be willing to be done by were we in their circumstances; to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly before God. These are some of the laws of nature which every man in the world is bound to observe, and which whoever violates exposes himself to the resentment of mankind, the lashes of his own conscience, and the judgment of Heaven. This plainly shows that the highest state of liberty subjects us to the law of nature and the government of God.“ --On the Right to Rebel Against Governors 1776 Samuel West

4. Unleashing Your Faith OFFENCE without being Offensive Discussing Truth and Christian Convictions 7

5. Offense • Defense • Proof Giving an Answer: Defense

6. Classical Arguments Transcendental Arguments Cosmological Science Teleological Logic Moral Morals Giving an Answer: Proof

7. Evidences Reliability of the Bible Resurrection of Jesus Miracles Archaeology Information in DNA Fine-Tuning of the Universe Giving an Answer: Proof

8. Defense The Bible has been changed so many times The Problem of Evil Christianity was derived from pagan religions People who have never heard OT Genocide Christianity is all about blind faith Religion impedes science Atrocities in the name of Christianity Original sin is not fair! I believe in one less God than you Christians are all hypocrites The Bible says Not to judge Giving an Answer: Defense 8

9. Offense • Defense • Proof Giving an Answer: Offense

10. Offense • Offense Giving an Answer: Offense

11. Offense

12. Offense

14. Offense Claims Consistent with a Biblical Worldview Trinity Gravity Diety of Christ Algebra Inconsistent with a Biblical Worldview Mormonism Oneness Atheism JWs Hinduism Abortion Buddhism Islam Homosexuality Romanism Hold to “Biblical Authority” Appeal to External Authority Giving an Answer: Offense

15. Examples • Romanism • Oneness Pentecostal • Jehovah’s Witnesses • Mormonism • Islam • Abortion? • Homosexuality? Inconsistent with a Biblical Worldview Hold to “Biblical Authority” Judaism? Giving an Answer: Offense

16. Isa 53:1 Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? :2For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. :3He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. :4Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. :5But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. :6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. :7He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. :8By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? :9And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.

17. Examples • Romanism • Oneness Pentecostal • Jehovah’s Witnesses • Mormonism • Islam • Abortion? • Homosexuality? Approach • Take up their “accepted authority” to prove the validity of the Bible • Demonstrate inconsistencies. • Place the burden on them to resolve the inconsistencies. Inconsistent with a Biblical Worldview Hold to “Biblical Authority” Judaism? Giving an Answer: Offense

20. Forgiveness of Sin - Catholics believe forgiveness of sin is achieved through faith plus church ritual plus Mary, with the assistance of the priesthood. There is no salvation outside the Roman Catholic Church. Protestants believe forgiveness of sin is received without anyone’s cooperating works, through faith alone, given by God in Christ leading to repentance and confession directly to God. Catholics believe that the teaching of ‘justification by faith ALONE’ is heresy; at the Council of Trent, the Roman Catholic church anathematized anyone who held to the Reformed teachings of the Five SOLAs. The Bible - Catholicsbelieve that truth is found in the Bible, as interpreted by the church, but also found in church tradition. Protestantsbelieve that truth is found in Scripture, interpreted by the individual with the leading of the Holy Spirit, and that the original writings of the authors of the Bible are without error.

21. Seven Sacraments Baptism Confirmation The Eucharist Reconciliation (penance) Anointing the sick (formerly Extreme Unction) Holy Orders Holy Matrimony Types of Catholics Practicing Catholics Lapsed Catholics Regular attender Catholics Cultural Catholics ‘Just in Case’ Catholics Evangelical Catholics The 7 Sacraments (according to Rome)

22. Baptism As viewed by the Catholic Church, baptism is the first of three sacraments of initiation as a Christian.It washes away all sins, both original sin and personal actual sins. It makes a person a member of the Church. As a gratuitous gift of God that requires no merit on the part of the person who is baptized, it is conferred even on children who, though they have no personal sins, need it on account of original sin. If a new-born child is in a danger of death, anyone—be it a doctor, a nurse, or a parent—may baptize the child. Baptism marks a person permanently and cannot be repeated. The Catholic Church recognizes as valid baptisms conferred even by people who are not Catholics or Christians, provided that they intend to baptize ("to do what the Church does when she baptizes") and that they use the Trinitarian formula.

23. According to Rome, seeing the truth of the Roman way qualifies one for baptism. According to Reformed doctrine, seeing the truth of the Reformed doctrine, including the necessity of water baptism, does not of itself alone qualify that person to be baptized. What is the essential difference here? You see the two traditions are viewing the sinner as lost, but one of them says he is able to save himself by submitting to baptism. The other says he is not able to save himself by submitting to baptism. 

24. Examples • Romanism • Oneness Pentecostal • Jehovah’s Witnesses • Mormonism • Islam • Abortion? • Homosexuality? Approach • Take up their “accepted authority” to prove the validity of the Bible • Demonstrate inconsistencies. • Place the burden on them to resolve the inconsistencies. Inconsistent with a Biblical Worldview Hold to “Biblical Authority” Judaism? Giving an Answer: Offense

25. Offense Claims Consistent with a Biblical Worldview Trinity Gravity Diety of Christ Algebra Inconsistent with a Biblical Worldview Mormonism Oneness Atheism JWs Hinduism Abortion Buddhism Islam Homosexuality Romanism Hold to “Biblical Authority” Appeal to External Authority Giving an Answer: Offense

26. Examples • Atheism • Hinduism • Buddhism Approach • Take up their worldview and demonstrate the lack of justification for: • Science • Morals • Logic Inconsistent with a Biblical Worldview Appeal to External Authority Giving an Answer: Offense

27. Examples • Abortion • Homosexuality Approach • Take up their view and show where it leads. Inconsistent with a Biblical Worldview Appeal to External Authority Giving an Answer: Offense

28. If it’s not a person, then no justification is required to do whatever you want with it. If it is a person, then it deserves the same rights and protections as all other persons. Abortion Only One Question: “What is it?” Giving an Answer: Offense

29. S.L.E.D. Test Size Level of development Environment Degree of dependency Trot out the Toddler Abortion Two Key Tools Giving an Answer: Offense

30. “It’s not a person.” Response • At what point does it become a person? • Demonstrate arbitrariness with S.L.E.D. / Toddler “It’s a person, but not with rights equal to the Mother.” Response • At what point does it get equal rights? • Demonstrate arbitrariness with S.L.E.D. / Toddler Abortion Only One Question: “What is it?” Giving an Answer: Offense

31. It's a woman's right to choose. • This is a private matter; No government influence. • Women are going to have them anyway. • Unwanted child • Not financially able • Too young to have a child • Rape and incest (it will remind the mother) • The mother's life is in danger? Like what? Abortion “Defenses” Giving an Answer: Offense

32. Objective: “Where does the objective standard come from?” Relative: “Why stop at two men, or two women, why not polygamy, and cross-generational, and cross species?” Homosexuality Does “Marriage” have an objective meaning, or Does it mean whatever we want it to mean? Giving an Answer: Offense

33. "Yes, thousands. But not siblings. That's incest!"“So? And, no, we’re not gay.""Not gay?? Then why do you want to get married?“ "For the financial benefits, of course. And we do love each other. Besides, we don't have any other prospects.“ "But we're issuing marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples who've been denied equal protection under the law. You’re not gay? You can marry a woman." “Are you discriminating against us because we’re not gay?" At the Marriage Counter"Next.""Good morning. We want to apply for a marriage license.""Names?""Tim and Jim Jones.""Jones?? Are you related?? I see a resemblance.""Yes, we're brothers.""Brothers?? You can't get married.""Why not?? Aren't you giving marriage licenses to same gender couples?" Still going… "All right, all right. Next.""Hello, I'd like a marriage license.""In what names?""David Deets.""And the other man?""That's all. I want to marry myself.""Marry yourself?? What do you mean?""Well, my psychiatrist says I have a dual personality, so I want tomarry the two together. Maybe I can file a joint income-tax return.""That does it!? I quit!!? You people are making a mockery of marriage!!"

34. "Hi. We’re here to get married." “Names?""John Smith, Jane James, Robert Green, and June Johnson.""Who wants to marry whom?""We all want to marry each other.""But there are four of you!""That's right. You see, we're all bisexual. I love Jane and Robert, Jane loves me and June, June loves Robert and Jane, and Robert loves June and me. All of us getting married together is the only way that we can express our sexual preferences in a marital relationship." Your dog… Your dead friend …. Your mother or grandson… Your student… What about marrying?...

35. Offense Claims Consistent with a Biblical Worldview Trinity Gravity Diety of Christ Algebra Inconsistent with a Biblical Worldview Mormonism Oneness Atheism JWs Hinduism Abortion Buddhism Islam Homosexuality Romanism Hold to “Biblical Authority” Appeal to External Authority Giving an Answer: Offense

36. Offense • Offense Giving an Answer: Offense

37. Offense Giving an Answer: Offense

38. Offense • Defense • Proof Giving an Answer: Offense

39. Offense • Defense • Proof Giving an Answer

40. Set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts • and always be ready • to give an answer • to anyone who asks • about the hope you possess, • yet do it with courtesy and respect… 1 Pet 3:15 Presuppositions Tactics Know Your Audience Credo Ambassador Model Proof, Defense, Offense Defending Your Faith

41. Romanism