OBJECTIONS TO CHRISTIANITYJESUS: NOT GOD & NOT THE ONLY WAY

TOP 10 OBJECTIONS• How could a good all powerful God allow evil?• How can you prove God exists?• Evolution disproves Christianity• Miracles are not possible so Christianity is false• Truth is relative• All Christians are hypocrites so Christianity is false• How could a loving God send people to hell?• The Bible is just a book filled with errors• Jesus was just a man• Jesus can’t be the only way

Creator – creature Distinction• For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible,

whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Col 1:16-17 (ESV)

• One Triune Creator Personal Sovereign God– Independent Infinite Authority

• Creation– Dependent Finite Submissive

GOD’S SELF DISCLOSURE

• General Revelation– All Creation– People’s Conscience

• Special Revelation– The Bible– The Lord Jesus Christ

CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW• One Triune God• God’s Revelation to people• Separated sinners under God’s wrath• The Incarnation: God becoming a man• Jesus’ virgin birth, sinlessness and miracles• The Atonement• The Resurrection• The Ascension• Jesus’ return• Eternal life: heaven or hell based on faith in Jesus

ANSWERS

• Trinity• Incarnation• Resurrection• Social pluralism vs. Metaphysical pluralism

ONE TRIUNE GOD

• The One God has always existed as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit

• One God – nature, essence, substance, being– What God is – “One What”

• Three Persons – subsistence, personhood– Who God is – “Three Whos”

• Plurality of personhood within one infinite being

ONE GOD

• “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Deut 6:4 (ESV)

• You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! James 2:19 (ESV)

THE TRINITY• Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there

are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 1 Cor 12:4-6 (ESV)

• Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect …2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood 1 Peter 1:1-2 (ESV)

• And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Matt 3:16-17 (ESV)

CENTRAL TRUTH CLAIM: JESUS IS GOD

• he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. Matt 16:13-17 (ESV)

CENTRAL TRUTH CLAIM: JESUS IS GODJESUS’ CLAIMS

• “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. Luke 24:44-49 (ESV)

CENTRAL TRUTH CLAIM: JESUS IS GODJESUS’ CLAIMS

• Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” 59 So they picked up stones to throw at him, John 8:58-59 (ESV)

• I and the Father are one.” 31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. John 10:30-31 (ESV)

• Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” 62 And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” Mark 14:61-62 (ESV)

CENTRAL TRUTH CLAIM: JESUS IS GODJESUS’ CLAIMS

• For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45 (ESV)

• “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. John 3:16-18 (ESV)

CENTRAL TRUTH CLAIM: JESUS IS GODJESUS’ CLAIMS

• Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” Matt 11:2-6 (ESV)

• “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 (ESV)

CENTRAL TRUTH CLAIM: JESUS IS GODJESUS INVOKED DIVINE PREOGATIVES

• those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Matt 14:33 (ESV)

• And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2:5 (ESV)

• And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased Mark 4:39 (ESV)

• My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. John 10:27-28 (ESV)

CENTRAL TRUTH CLAIM: JESUS IS GODEYEWITNESS TESTIMONY

• For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 2 Peter 1:16 (ESV)

• In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1 (ESV)

• And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 (ESV)

• For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily Col 2:9 (ESV)

• our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. James 2:1 (ESV)

THE LORD JESUS CHRISTTHE INCARNATION

• One Person – subsistence, personhood– Who Jesus is – “One Who”

• Two Natures – essence, substance, being– What Jesus is – “Two Whats”– Always fully God and became fully man– God plus

• Hypostatic Union – the union of the two distinct natures in the one person of Jesus Christ

THE INCARNATION IS TRUEFULFILLED PROPHECIES

• and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed Gen 22:18 (ESV)

• The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Gen 49:10 (ESV)• There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse Isaiah 11:1

(ESV)• Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up

for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king Jer 23:5 (ESV)• Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his

name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 (ESV)• But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah…, from you shall come forth for me

one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Micah 5:2 (ESV)

THE INCARNATION IS TRUEJESUS’ PERFECT, HOLY SINLESS LIFE

• But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? John 8:45-46 (ESV)

• He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth 1 Peter 2:22 (ESV)

• You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 1 John 3:5 (ESV)

• For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Heb 4:15 (ESV)

THE INCARNATION IS TRUEJESUS’ PEREFECT, HOLY SINLESS LIFE

• Now the chief priests and the whole Council were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none. Mark 14:55 (ESV)

• “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. 15 Neither did Herod Luke 23:14-15 (ESV)

• he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” Matt 27:3-4 (ESV)

THE RESURRECTION IS TRUE

• For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 1 Cor 15:3-8 (ESV)

CHRISTIANITY STANDS ON THE RESURRECTION

• Christianity is Christ!• if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and

your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. 1 Cor 15:14-19 (ESV)

• Christianity is not a western slant on ethics

THE RESURRECTION IS TRUEFULLFILLED PROPHECIES

• 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All 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. 7 He 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. 8 By 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? 9 And 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. 10 Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Isaiah 53:5-10 (ESV)

THE RESURRECTION IS TRUE• Jesus died by crucifixion• Jesus was buried in a rich man’s tomb• Jesus’ followers were afraid and discouraged• The empty tomb• Eyewitnesses to the resurrection• The disciples transformation• The conversion of the persecutor Paul• The conversion of the skeptic James• The origin of the Christian church• Sunday worship• Alternative explanations are inadequate

CHRIST IS THE ONLY WAY• Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No

one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 (ESV)

• And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 (ESV)

• And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 1 John 5:11-12 (ESV)

• if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 (ESV)

PLURALISM

• Social Pluralism– Tolerance of diverse religious expression

• Metaphysical Pluralism– All religious truth claims are equally valid and are

simultaneously true

WORLD RELIGIONS ARE FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT

• Nature of God• Revelation• Human problem• Nature of salvation• Destiny of humans

LAW OF NON-CONTRADICTION

• Contradictory truth claims cannot both be true• There either is or is not One Triune God• The Bible is or is not the complete revelation• Jesus is or is not God, man, and only Savior• Jesus’ death either did or did not save believers• Eternal life in heaven or hell based on faith in Jesus

as Savior is or is not true• Since the Christian Worldview truth claims are true

then all other religions are false

APOLOGETIC METHOD“THE CERTAINTY OF THE FAITH”

R.B. RAMSAY

• Demonstrate interest• Explain your faith• Furnish answers• Expose their presuppositions – worldview – How do you know that?– Why do you believe that?– “Ask Them Why”, Jay Lucas

• Navigate through his errors: A – I – P • Direct him to Christ

DIRECT THEM TO CHRIST• “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to

the Father except through me. John 14:6 (ESV)• For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is

eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (ESV)• if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and

believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 (ESV)

• For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Eph 2:8-9 (ESV)