1 Peter 3:15-16

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1 Peter 315-16
Apologetics to the Glory of God
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• 14But even if you should suffer for what is
  right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they
  fear do not be frightened. (Isaiah 812)
• 15But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.
  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone
  who asks you to give the reason for the hope that
  you have. But do this with gentleness and
  respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that
  those who speak maliciously against your good
  behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their
  slander.
• 17It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer
  for doing good than for doing evil. 18For Christ
  died for sins once for all, the righteous for the
  unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to
  death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,

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Why Apologetics?
Apologetics to the Glory of God
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• 1 Peter 315, But sanctify Christ as Lord in
  your hearts, always being ready to make a defense
  to everyone who asks you to give an account for
  the hope that is within you, yet with gentleness
  and reverence.
•  Every believer has a hope
• There is a reason for this hope
• There will be questions about the reason for
  this hope
• The believer must be ready to defend the
  reason/hope
• The believer should use the best defense
• The believer must prepare in order to offer the
  best defense

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Christian Apologetics Defined
Apologetics to the Glory of God
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• It is not apologizing discuss Greek word
• It is 1 Peter 315
• Christian apologetics is the discipline that
  teaches Christians how to give a reason for their
  hope
• It is the application of Scripture to unbelief
• Apologetics as proof
• Jesus and apostles often offered evidence (John
  1411 2024-31 1 Cor 151-11)
• Apologetics as defense
• Answers objections of unbelief (Phil 117
  defending the gospel)
• Apologetics as offense
• Attacking the foolishness (Ps 141
  1Cor118-216 2 Cor105)

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Presuppositions
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• Set apart Jesus Christ as LORD!
• What is neutrality?
• What does neutrality imply? (see pg 6)
• Be faithful to our Lords revelation.
• To tell the unbeliever that we can reason with
  him on a neutral basis (even if this may
  initially attract his attention) is a lie. This
  does the opposite of setting apart Christ as
  Lord.
• Define presupposition.
• It is pre in 2 senses.

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Circular Argument?
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• What is meant by argument?
• Circular The Bible is true therefore, the
  Bible is true
• Not circular If Jesus post-Resurrection
  appearances are well attested, then the
  Resurrection is a fact. Since his
  post-Resurrection appearances are well attested
  therefore, the Resurrection is a fact.
• Everyone presupposes some kind of authority, or
  basis, for what they say and think.
• Rationalists human reason is the ultimate
  authority
• Empiricist sense experience is ultimate
• Does this end the conversation? No for 5 reasons

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5 reasons Dialogue is possible
Apologetics to the Glory of God
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• God has revealed himself clearly to the
  unbeliever (Romans 119ff)
• Lets just keep using our respective
  presupposition and move along to some matters we
  havent discussed.
• Our witness never comes alone. God adds a
  supernatural element to that witness the Holy
  Spirit, working in and with the word (Rom
  1518-19 1 Cor 24-5 12ff 2 Cor 315-18 1
  Thess 15 cf.213 2 Thess 213-14)
• If you have doubts in your own ability to
  communicate, there is something you ought not
  doubt
• The ability of the Holy Spirit our witness is
  HIS tool
• We have dialogue with unbelievers about other
  things.
• Oscar story

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5 reasons Dialogue is possible (cont)
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• 4. Recall apologetics can take many forms.
• Too circular, use an offensive apologetic
  against unbelievers worldview or way of
  thinking.
• Ask Socratic questions
• How do you account for the universality of
  logical laws? How do you arrive at the judgment
  that human life is worth living?, etc.
• Tell a parable like Nathan did with King David.
  E.g. Lk 126-21
• Use broadly circular arguments
• The Bible is the Word of God because of various
  evidences

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Gods responsibility and ours
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• Read, think about and BELIEVE what Scripture
  says. Do you need to understand how everything
  works?
• Gods thoughts are higher than yours. But you
  still know that what it says is true
• God is sovereign
• This in no way contradicts our guiltiness and
  responsibility
• What are Gods means of accomplishing his
  purposes?
• Prayer
• Preaching

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Sola Scriptura
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Sola Scriptura and General Revelation
Apologetics to the Glory of God
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• Is General Revelation sufficient for
  understanding the world?
• For salvation?
• Was it before the Fall?
• spectacles of Scripture get quote and pic from
  Calvin ppt

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Value/Importance of Apologetics
Apologetics to the Glory of God
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• Benefits are similar to that of preaching
• Leads to the conversion of the lost and the
  edification of the saints.

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Dangers - Warning
Apologetics to the Glory of God
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• What are the characteristics of an apologist that
  Peter gives in 1 Peter 315-16?
• List the most important qualifications for an
  apologist.
• Intelligent?
• Knowledgeable?
• http//www.leaderu.com/common/sixenemies.html
• Indifference
• Irrationalism
• Ignorance
• Cowardice
• Arrogance and intellectual vanity
• Superficial techniques or schlock apologetics

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Apologetics to the Glory of God
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