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Defend Your Faith

• Lesson 1
• Is Faith Reasonable?

Presented by Chris Reeves Park Road church of
Christ Gospel Meeting April 14 , 2013
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Faith Is Reasonable

• What is apologetics? (1 Peter 315)

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• But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts and be
  ready always to give an answer to every man that
  asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you
  with meekness and fear 1 Peter 315

5
Faith Is Reasonable

• What is apologetics? (1 Peter 315)
• What kind of apologetics do we use?
  (Acts 172-3,16-31)

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• and Paul, as his custom was, went in unto them,
  and for three sabbath days reasoned with them
  from the Scriptures opening and alleging And
  some of them were persuaded Acts 172-4

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• The God that made the world and all things
  therein he made of one every nation of men to
  dwell on all the face of the earth, having
  determined their appointed seasons, and the
  bounds of their habitation Acts 1724-26

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Faith Is Reasonable

• What is apologetics? (1 Peter 315)
• What kind of apologetics do we use?
  (Acts 172-3,16-31)
• Who engages in apologetics? (Isaiah 118
  Matthew 112-6 Luke 11-4 1 Peter 315)

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Faith Is Reasonable

• What is apologetics? (1 Peter 315)
• What kind of apologetics do we use?
  (Acts 172-3,16-31)
• Who engages in apologetics? (Isaiah 118
  Matthew 112-6 Luke 11-4 1 Peter 315)
• Why engage in apologetics? (1 Peter 315 Luke
  175 1 Peter 416 Acts 214ff 1 Thessalonians
  521)

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Presenting Your Case For Faith

• What faith is evidence (Hebrews 111)

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• Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,
  the evidence of things not seen Hebrews 111

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Presenting Your Case For Faith

• What faith is evidence (Hebrews 111)
• What faith is not blind and gullible (2 Peter
  116)

13

• For we did not follow cunningly devised fables,
  when we made known unto you the power and coming
  of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitness
  of his majesty
• 2 Peter 116

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Presenting Your Case For Faith

• Faith is built upon evidence (Acts 11-3 John
  2124 1 John 11-4 1 Corinthians 154-5 2
  Peter 116-21)

15

• The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus,
  of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
  until the day in which he was taken up, after
  that he through the Holy Ghost had given
  commandments unto the apostles whom he had
  chosen to whom also he showed himself alive
  after his passion by many infallible proofs,
  being seen of them forty days, and speaking of
  the things pertaining to the
  kingdom of God Acts 11-3

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• This is the disciple which testifieth of these
  things, and wrote these things and we know that
  his testimony is true John 2124

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• That which was from the beginning, which we have
  heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we
  have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of
  the Word of life for the life was manifested,
  and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show
  unto you that eternal life, which was with the
  Father, and was manifested unto us that which we
  have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye
  also may have fellowship with us and truly our
  fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son
  Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you,
  that your joy may be full 1 John 11-4

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• And that he was buried, and that he rose again
  the third day according to the scriptures and
  that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve
  after that, he was seen of above five hundred
  brethren at once of whom the greater part remain
  unto this present, but some are fallen asleep
  1 Corinthians 154-6

19

• For we have not followed cunningly devised
  fables, when we made known unto you the power and
  coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were
  eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from
  God the Father honor and glory, when there came
  such a voice to him from the excellent glory,
  This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well
  pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we
  heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
  We have also a more sure word of prophecy
  whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a
  light that shineth in a dark place, until the day
  dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts
  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the
  scripture is of any private interpretation. For
  the prophecy came not in old time by the will of
  man but holy men of God spake as they were moved
  by the Holy Ghost 2 Peter 116-21

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Presenting Your Case For Faith

• Faith is built upon evidence (Acts 11-3 John
  2124 1 John 11-4 1 Corinthians 154-5 2
  Peter 216-21)
• Faith comes from weighing the evidence of men,
  scripture, nature, and miracles (Luke 11-4
  John 2030-31 Psalm 191-4 Acts 1417
  Romans 120 Hebrews 23-4)

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• Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set
  forth in order a declaration of those things
  which are most surely believed among us, even as
  they delivered them unto us, which from the
  beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the
  word it seemed good to me also, having had
  perfect understanding of all things from the very
  first, to write unto thee in order, most
  excellent Theophilus, that thou mightest know the
  certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been
  instructed Luke 11-4

22

• And many other signs truly did Jesus in the
  presence of his disciples, which are not written
  in this book but these are written, that ye
  might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son
  of God and that believing ye might have life
  through his name
• John 2030-31

23

• The heavens declare the glory of God and the
  firmament showeth his handiwork. Day unto day
  uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth
  knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where
  their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out
  through all the earth, and their words to the end
  of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle
  for the sun Psalm 191-4

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• Nevertheless he left not himself without
  witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain
  from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our
  hearts with food and gladness Acts 1417

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• Because that which may be known of God is
  manifest in them for God hath showed it unto
  them. For the invisible things of him from the
  creation of the world are clearly seen, being
  understood by the things that are made, even his
  eternal power and Godhead so that they are
  without excuse Romans 119-20

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• Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed
  to the things which we have heard, lest at any
  time we should let them slip. For if the word
  spoken by angels was stedfast, and every
  transgression and disobedience received a just
  recompence of reward how shall we escape, if we
  neglect so great salvation which at the first
  began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed
  unto us by them that heard him God also bearing
  them witness, both with signs and wonders, and
  with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy
  Ghost, according to his own will?
  Hebrews 23-4

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Presenting Your Case For Faith

• Faith is built upon evidence (Acts 11-3 John
  2124 1 John 11-4 1 Corinthians 154-5 2
  Peter 216-21)
• Faith comes from weighing the evidence of men,
  scripture, nature, and miracles (Luke 11-4
  John 2030-31 Romans 120 Hebrews 23-4)
• Faith leads to trust and obedience (James 224-26)

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• Ye see then how that by works a man is
  justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also
  was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when
  she had received the messengers, and had sent
  them out another way? For as the body without the
  spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead
  also James 224-26

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Presenting Your Case For Faith

• What is reason? (Acts 172,17 184,19 198-9
  207,9 2412,25 Romans 121)

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• I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the
  mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a
  living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,
  which is your reasonable service Romans 121

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Presenting Your Case For Faith

• What is reason? (Acts 172,17 184,19 198-9
  207,9 2412,25 Romans 121)
• What is the relationship between reason and
  faith? (Acts 184)

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• And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath,
  and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks Acts 184

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Answering Objections to Faith

• Objection 1 Faith lacks evidence and is simply
  a blind leap in the dark.
• Is faith blind? What about 2 Corinthians 57?

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• While we look not at the things which are seen,
  but at the things which are not seen for the
  things which are seen are temporal but the
  things which are not seen are eternal 2
  Corinthians 418
• For we walk by faith, not by sight
  2 Corinthians 517

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• While we look not at the things which are seen,
  but at the things which are not seen for the
  things which are seen are temporal but the
  things which are not seen are eternal 2
  Corinthians 418
• For we walk by faith, not by sight
  2 Corinthians 517

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• While we look not at the things which are seen,
  but at the things which are not seen for the
  things which are seen are temporal but the
  things which are not seen are eternal 2
  Corinthians 418
• For we walk by faith, not by sight
  2 Corinthians 517

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Answering Objections to Faith

• Objection 1 Faith lacks evidence and is simply
  a blind leap in the dark.
• No, biblical faith is grounded upon evidence
  (John 2030-31 2 Peter 116-21 1 John 11-4).
• Jesus upbraided his followers for a lack of faith
  (hard heart) in the presence of evidence (Mark
  169-14)

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• Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of
  the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene,
  out of whom he had cast seven devils. And she
  went and told them that had been with him, as
  they mourned and wept. And they, when they had
  heard that he was alive, and had been seen of
  her, believed not. After that he appeared in
  another form unto two of them, as they walked,
  and went into the country. And they went and told
  it unto the residue neither believed they them.
  Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat
  at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief
  and hardness of heart, because they believed not
  them which had seen him after he was risen
• Mark 169-14

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Answering Objections to Faith

• Objection 1 Faith lacks evidence and is simply
  a blind leap in the dark.
• Be careful to avoid two extremes the
  anti-intellectual approach to faith (Romans 121)
  and the human-reasoning-alone approach to faith
  (Proverbs 1412 Jeremiah 1023).

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Answering Objections to Faith

• Objection 2 Many intelligent and educated
  people do not believe in Christianity because
  there is no evidence to believe.
• When intelligent people refuse to believe, it is
  not because of a lack of evidence, but rather a
  lack of honesty and integrity (John 540 Romans
  125,28 2 Thessalonians 310-12).
• The problem is with their will, not their mind
  (evidence).

41

• And ye have not his word abiding in you for
  whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Search the
  scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal
  life and they are they which testify of me. And
  ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
  I receive not honor from men. But I know you,
  that ye have not the love of God in you. I am
  come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not
  if another shall come in his own name, him ye
  will receive. How can ye believe, which receive
  honor one of another, and seek not the honor that
  cometh from God only? John 538-44

42

• Because that, when they knew God, they glorified
  him not as God, neither were thankful but became
  vain in their imaginations, and their foolish
  heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be
  wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of
  the uncorruptible God into an image made like to
  corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed
  beasts, and creeping things ... Who changed the
  truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and
  served the creature more than the Creator, who is
  blessed for ever. Amen ... And even as they did
  not like to retain God in their knowledge, God
  gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those
  things which are not convenient
  Romans 121-23,25,28

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• And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness
  in them that perish because they received not
  the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
  And for this cause God shall send them strong
  delusion, that they should believe a lie that
  they all might be damned who believed not the
  truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness
  2 Thessalonians 210-12

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Answering Objections to Faith

• Objection 3 Unbelievers rely upon facts
  (evidence) and believers rely upon faith (no
  evidence).
• Both rely upon facts and faith.
• Everyone believes (has faith) in something (Big
  Bang) or someone (God). It is not a matter of
  having faith, but in what or in whom will ones
  faith be placed (Hebrews 111-3).

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• Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,
  the evidence of things not seen. For by it the
  elders obtained a good report. Through faith we
  understand that the worlds were framed by the
  word of God, so that things which are seen were
  not made of things which do appear Hebrews
  111-3

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Answering Objections to Faith

• Objection 4 Faith Saves, Not Reason.
• Yes, faith saves (Luke 750 Ephesians 28
  James 214), but faith includes reason
  because faith is based upon knowledge, and
  knowledge requires a use of reason (Romans
  1017).
• God gives us a mind (reason) and he expects us to
  use it to serve him (Mark 1230 Romans 121). We
  must use critical thinking (1 Thessalonians 521
  1 John 41).

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• And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all
  thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all
  thy mind, and with all thy strength this is the
  first commandment Mark 1230

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Defend Your Faith

• Faith is based upon truth and truth is objective
  and rational. Faith is the reasonable and
  rational response to the abundand evidence that
  God has given to mankind.
• Belief (faith) is more reasonable and rational
  than unbelief.
• There is evidence for the existence of God, the
  Bible as the Word of God, Jesus as the Son of
  God, etc.

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Defend Your Faith

• We dont want to live without a faith that gives
  us hope (Ephesians 212 1 Thessalonians 413).
• Faith in God and his word gives us reason to
  live. It makes the day brighter, our life
  sweeter, and everything meaningful.

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• that ye were at that time separate from Christ,
  alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and
  strangers from the covenants of the promise,
  having no hope and without God in the world
  Ephesians 212

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Defend Your Faith

• Do you have the will to believe today (John
  716-17)?

52

• Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is
  not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will
  do his will, he shall know of the doctrine,
  whether it be of God, or whether I speak of
  myself John 716-17