giving a reason for what we believe copyright 15/03/2011 by steve maclean. all rights reserved

Giving a Reason for what we Believe

Does God Exist?

Apologetics

Copyright 15/03/2011 By Steve Maclean. All rights Reserved

Ps 14:1 Only a fool would say, “There is no God!” People like that are worthless; they are heartless and cruel and never do right.

Prov 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing. (Edmund Burke)

Are you a Fool?


It does NOT mean “apologising”!I Pet 3:15 Always be prepared to give a

defence to everyone who asks you to explain the hope you have.

Jude 3 continue your vigorous defence of the faith that was passed down to the saints once and for all.

Act 18:4 Every Sabbath (Paul) would argue in the synagogue and try to persuade both Jews and Greeks. (see also Acts 26:28; II Cor 5:11)

Apologetics: What does it Mean?


No interest in truth but in pragmatism — “does it work?” Relativism — “works for you, not for all.”

If no absolute truth, can be no objectivity therefore no discussion about anything.

Moral decisions without external objective reality (i.e. spiritual absolute) like sorting numbers into order without reference to external standard.

If mankind’s moral / ethical standards defined by Man, judgements such as “better” or “worse” equally meaningless.

The Postmodern Problem


“There is no such thing as absolute truth; two people could define truth in totally conflicting ways, but both could still be correct.” (72% agree)

“There are no absolute standards that apply to everybody in all situations.” (71% agree)

53% of those who claim there is no such thing as absolute truth say they are born-again Christians.

“No such thing as absolute truth; two conflicting definitions of truth could both still be correct.” (42% of those who say they are evangelical Christians agree)

What is Truth? (Jn 17:17; 18:38)


Does it matter?

How much does it matter?

Is there a God?

You are Thinking

Thinkers Exist

You Exist

Whatever has a Beginning has a

Cause

The outside world Exists & had a

Beginning

Universe could not Begin on its

own

2nd Law of Thermodynamics

Universe winding down (sun using up fuel)

Universe had a Beginning


Is there a God ?

Universe could not Begin on its

ownUniverse winding down (sun using up

fuel)

Universe had a Beginning

Universe cannot explain itselfThere must be something else

That Something must be Supernatural

The Supernatural must be the Prime Mover, Eternal, Omnipotent & Omniscient

In the Beginning, God …


Don’t start arguing here!Best arguments begin with Jesus: He who has seen Me has seen the

Father. Jn 14:9

Why is Jesus God? Because of resurrection!

How can we know? Because of eye-witnesses!

How can trust these accounts? Compare historical proofs of NT documents with other, contemporary, documentary evidence.

Does God exist?


Internal evidence — date & authorship. Claim to be records of eye-witnesses & close associates.

External evidence — Paul’s death in 64-65 AD under Nero not recorded in Acts

Highly probable Acts completed before 64-65 AD

Acts is “sequel”, so Gospel must be pre-64 AD.

Luke claims to be using already existing works — probably Mark, possibly Matthew so these must have been written between 34-64 AD. Cannot be forgeries or inventions — simply not enough time!

Doctor Luke


John

Papias

Irenaeus(Lyon)

Eusebius(Caesarea)

Polycarp


Manuscripts

Archaeology

Prophecy

Statistics

ManuscriptsEyewitnesses

(Luke)External EnemiesMany have tried

to disprove – all failed

Old in New Revealed, Concealed

Remember the maths

M-A-P-S : Guide to Biblical Reliability


giving a reason for what we believe copyright 15/03/2011 by steve maclean. all rights reserved

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