EVERY CHRISTIAN A DEFENDER EVERY CHRISTIAN A DEFENDER OF THE FAITHOF THE FAITH

TEXT FOR OUR LESSONTEXT FOR OUR LESSON

Philip. 1:14-17Philip. 1:14-17 And many of the brethren in the Lord, And many of the brethren in the Lord,

waxing confident by my bonds, are waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word much more bold to speak the word without fear. [15] Some indeed preach without fear. [15] Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: [16] The one preach also of good will: [16] The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: supposing to add affliction to my bonds: [17] But the other of love, knowing that [17] But the other of love, knowing that I I am set for the defence of the gospel. am set for the defence of the gospel.

WHY SHOULD WE SPEAK WHY SHOULD WE SPEAK ON THIS SUBJECT?ON THIS SUBJECT?

Because of doubts that may at Because of doubts that may at times arise in one’s mind.times arise in one’s mind.

Because of false teaching.Because of false teaching.

Because of questions that arise Because of questions that arise from our friends, neighbors, family, from our friends, neighbors, family, etc.etc.

Because we should be able to give a Because we should be able to give a reason for our faith.reason for our faith.

PETER WROTE:PETER WROTE:

1 Peter 3:151 Peter 3:15

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

WE MUST NEVER BE ASHAMED WE MUST NEVER BE ASHAMED OF THE GOSPELOF THE GOSPEL

Romans 1:13-17Romans 1:13-17 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that

oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. [14] also, even as among other Gentiles. [14] I am I am debtordebtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. [15] So, as both to the wise, and to the unwise. [15] So, as much as in me is, much as in me is, I am readyI am ready to preach the gospel to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. [16] For to you that are at Rome also. [16] For I am not I am not ashamedashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. [17] For therein the Jew first, and also to the Greek. [17] For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

THE FAITH OF A CHRISTIAN IS THE FAITH OF A CHRISTIAN IS NOT BLIND ACCEPTANCENOT BLIND ACCEPTANCE

……Against the writings of a few Against the writings of a few unlearnedunlearned Jews, in a captive Roman Province, Jews, in a captive Roman Province, surviving the persecution of the Jewish surviving the persecution of the Jewish authorities, Pagan religions, and the authorities, Pagan religions, and the determined efforts of the Roman Empire to determined efforts of the Roman Empire to stamp them out. Then to survive 1900 stamp them out. Then to survive 1900 years of the onslaughts of skeptics and years of the onslaughts of skeptics and atheists, the compromises of disloyal atheists, the compromises of disloyal friends (?), etc. and be the best known, the friends (?), etc. and be the best known, the most widely read, and most influential of most widely read, and most influential of all writings of men is nothing short of the all writings of men is nothing short of the working (providence) and influence of working (providence) and influence of God.” God.” Author UnknownAuthor Unknown

““But I don’t believe in the Bible”.But I don’t believe in the Bible”.

Psalm 19:1

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

Romans 1:20

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:

GOD GAVE US THE POWER GOD GAVE US THE POWER TO REASON!TO REASON!

Isaiah 1:18Isaiah 1:18

Come now, and let us Come now, and let us reason reason together, saith the LORD: though together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. they shall be as wool.

THOUGHT CONTINUES…THOUGHT CONTINUES…

For any For any belief belief there must be there must be rational reasonrational reason for for that belief.that belief.

ReasonReason demands sufficient demands sufficient evidenceevidence to to support that belief.support that belief.

1 Thes. 5:211 Thes. 5:21

ProveProve all things; all things; hold fasthold fast that which is good. that which is good.

1 John 4:11 John 4:1

Beloved, Beloved, believe notbelieve not every spirit, but every spirit, but try the try the spiritsspirits whether they are of God: because many whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. false prophets are gone out into the world.

PROPER REASONING PROPER REASONING PROCESS:PROCESS:

Acceptance of the evidence depends on Acceptance of the evidence depends on FIVE things:FIVE things:

1.1. The The weightweight of the evidence. of the evidence.2.2. The The clarityclarity with which the evidence is with which the evidence is

presented.presented.3.3. The of The of honesty honesty the examiner of the the examiner of the

evidence.evidence.4.4. The logical The logical abilityability of the hearer to of the hearer to

evaluate evidence.evaluate evidence.5.5. The background The background prejudices prejudices of the of the

hearer.hearer.

CHRISTIAN MUST BE AN CHRISTIAN MUST BE AN APOLOGIST FOR THE FAITH.APOLOGIST FOR THE FAITH.

ApologeticsApologetics:: “Apologia” meaning a “Apologia” meaning a discourse in favor of.. In scientific usage discourse in favor of.. In scientific usage these words signify a systematic and these words signify a systematic and closely reasoned vindication.” (Keyser)closely reasoned vindication.” (Keyser)

The old hymn The old hymn “STAND UP, STAND UP “STAND UP, STAND UP FOR JESUS”FOR JESUS” EXHORTS THE CHRISTIAN EXHORTS THE CHRISTIAN TO BE AN APOLOGIST FOR OUR LORD.TO BE AN APOLOGIST FOR OUR LORD.

JESUS DEFENDED BOTH HIS JESUS DEFENDED BOTH HIS TEACHING & HIS CONDUCT.TEACHING & HIS CONDUCT.

Matthew 12:24-27Matthew 12:24-27 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, But when the Pharisees heard it, they said,

This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. [25] And Beelzebub the prince of the devils. [25] And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: house divided against itself shall not stand: [26] And if Satan cast out Satan, he is [26] And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? [27] And if I by Beelzebub kingdom stand? [27] And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. judges.

JESUS DEFENDED BOTH HIS JESUS DEFENDED BOTH HIS TEACHING & HIS CONDUCT.TEACHING & HIS CONDUCT.

John 5:19-27John 5:19-27 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Then answered Jesus and said unto them,

Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. [20] For the Father doeth the Son likewise. [20] For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. [21] For works than these, that ye may marvel. [21] For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. [22] For the Father judgeth no whom he will. [22] For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:. Son:.

THOUGHT CONTINUES…THOUGHT CONTINUES…

[[23] That all men should honour the 23] That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. [24] Verily, which hath sent him. [24] Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. death unto life.

PAUL “REASONED”.. “PERSUADED”.. PAUL “REASONED”.. “PERSUADED”.. “DEFENDED” THE FAITH.“DEFENDED” THE FAITH.

Acts 17:2Acts 17:2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto

them, and three sabbath days them, and three sabbath days reasonedreasoned with them out of the scriptures, with them out of the scriptures,

Acts 18:4Acts 18:4 And heAnd he reasonedreasoned in the synagogue every in the synagogue every

sabbath, andsabbath, and persuaded persuaded the Jews and the the Jews and the Greeks. Greeks.

Acts 18:19Acts 18:19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them And he came to Ephesus, and left them

there: but he himself entered into the there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and synagogue, and reasonedreasoned with the Jews. with the Jews.

THOUGHT CONTINUES…THOUGHT CONTINUES…

Acts 19:8Acts 19:8 And he went into the synagogue, and And he went into the synagogue, and

spake boldly for the space of three spake boldly for the space of three months, months, disputingdisputing and and persuadingpersuading the the things concerning the kingdom of God. things concerning the kingdom of God.

Acts 24:25Acts 24:25 And as he And as he reasonedreasoned of righteousness, of righteousness,

temperance, and judgment to come Felix temperance, and judgment to come Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. season, I will call for thee.

JUDE URGED:JUDE URGED:

Jude 3Jude 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to Beloved, when I gave all diligence to

write unto you of the common salvation, write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, it was needful for me to write unto you, and and exhort exhort you that ye should you that ye should earnestly earnestly contend for the faithcontend for the faith which was once which was once delivered unto the saints. delivered unto the saints.

““In view of this situation the need was not In view of this situation the need was not so much to expound the faith as to rally so much to expound the faith as to rally Christians in its defense.” Christians in its defense.” Barclay Barclay

TODAY… WE MUST STAND TODAY… WE MUST STAND IN ITS DEFENSE!IN ITS DEFENSE!

2 Tim. 1:72 Tim. 1:7

For God has not given us a For God has not given us a spirit of spirit of timiditytimidity, but of , but of powerpower and and lovelove and and discipline. discipline.

TODAY!

LETS DETERMINE THAT WE WILL LETS DETERMINE THAT WE WILL GET OUT AND…GET OUT AND…

““STAND UP, STAND UP FOR STAND UP, STAND UP FOR JESUS” AND THE GREAT BOOK JESUS” AND THE GREAT BOOK

OF SALVATION.OF SALVATION.