Apologia Session 1 | Why Apologia?

Big Idea’s:

Why Apologia?

False Teachers/Prophets

Purpose of this series

Explore the theology and biblical commands of apologia.

Define worldviews and cults and have a holistic bible answer in response.

Try and differentiate from biblical truth and historic traditions.

What is Apologia? (defense of the faith)

The New King James Version Chapter 3

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

Apologia-Speech of defense, examine, judge, to investigate, inquire into, scrutinize, sift, question (specifically in a forensic sense of a judge to hold an investigation or to interrogate, examine the accused or witnesses)

“For thou ours is a godless age, it is the very opposite of irreligious. The true believer is everywhere on the march, and both by converting and antagonizing he is shaping the world in his own image. And whether we are to line up with him or against him, it is well that we should know all we can concerning his nature and potentialities.” Eric Hoffer-The True Believer

· Where we find truth, we often find in close proximity a line of thinking that distorts and is false.

· They take a truth and mix it with a half-truth and muddy the entire doctrine or truth.

· What may start out as a small twist in truth becomes a fully derailed apostasy.

False Teachers/Prophets

· Why teach about false prophesy/teachers? “Just teach truth and it takes care of the false.” Jesus and the early church writers declared the reality of false prophets and teachers. (26 of 27 New Testament books warns about false teachers/prophets)

· Why then did they teach so much about it in early church? Jesus and the early church writers declared the reality of false prophets and teachers. Example of argument against this: American banking association counterfeit training.

Gamaliel unbiblical view of dissenting voices. (Acts 5:34-39)

Deception is huge and the church must through discipleship combat deception. (Most Cults are only a few degrees away from truth. That is why it's so easy to be deceived.)

A false gospel? Someone who preaches a biblically solid gospel but misspeaks about others understanding of the gospel is not preaching a false gospel. They are unaware of others.

Romans 16:17-18

The New King James Version Chapter 16

Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.

In the Bible they name them. Sometimes we need to name them.

2 Timothy 4:9-16

The New King James Version Chapter 4

Be diligent to come to me quickly; 10 for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. 12 And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13 Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments.

14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. 15 You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.

16 At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them.

2 Timothy 1:15

The New King James Version (Chapter 1)

This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

1 Timothy 1:19-20

The New King James Version Chapter 1

having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, 20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

2 Tim 2:17-18

The New King James Version Chapter 2

And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.

3 John 9-10

The New King James Version 3 John

I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. 10 Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.

Why-isn’t blind faith enough? (session 2)

Biblical command to have a defense. Faith and facts. 47% of the New Testament is apologetics. Orthodox Christianity (in session 3 we will define some of the essential Christian orthodoxy and why it’s important to know.) Biblical interpretations, Error, Heresy Dr. Francis Schafer referred to apologetics as pre-evangelism, a way to prepare the person to hear the gospel so that they could respond without the obstacles of those questions. Worldview's- Many Christians separate secular from sacred in that they assume God expects our church life and our rest of the time life are to be separate. (In the world not of the world) upwards of 95% of American Christians have never shared their faith with a non-believer.

Where we find truth, we often find in close proximity a line of thinking that distorts and is false.

They take a truth and mix it with a half-truth and muddy the entire doctrine or truth.

What may start out as a small twist in truth becomes a fully derailed apostasy.

Exegesis vs eisegesis Context matters.

Points in chapter 2. 4. points

Deception is huge and the church must through discipleship combat deception.

A false gospel? Someone who preaches a biblically solid gospel but mis speaks about others understanding of the gospel is not preaching a false gospel. They are unaware of others.

1 John 4:1

The New King James Version Chapter 4

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Coexist-Where does it end if we keep allowing anyone’s feelings to dictate truth?

Islam Jews Christians Wiccan Eastern Religions Sexuality New Age

Greatest danger is no longer atheism but Christ consciousness.

Nothing new under the sun. There are answers to most everything that comes up.

The word is Christ. Establish the infallible word. Example of Jesus walking into my room and speaking psalm 139 to me face to face. That is the power of the word.

Education does not have to be academic and theological nerdy. We are all called to be students of the word and have a defense.

Proverbs chapter 2-4

Some people find virtue and pride in their ability to deny facts and call it faith. Example-“I’m not sick” even though the truth is they are. They think if they acknowledge it they are out of faith so they find virtue in denial and anti-intellectualism.

Just because Jesus is mentioned does not mean it’s biblical Christianity. Many false religions acknowledge Jesus and have an explanation for him but deny key biblical aspects of his deity.

Is god impersonal or personal ?

Is god distinct from creation or identical to creation?

Is man god by nature?