Scripture clearly commands that we should be ready to give an answer for our faith.

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1 Answering the Tough Questions September 15, Soul Winning Seminar Joshua Burdick Introduction When we go to share our faith with an atheist, skeptic, or someone involved in another religion, it won t be long before we are asked a tough question. When we are, it can feel like we are standing behind a microphone in front of a large crowd and every eye is on us. This is perhaps the #1 reason why Christians balk at evangelism. Scripture clearly commands that we should be ready to give an answer for our faith. 1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Not only are we to commanded to be ready, but we are commanded to contend. Jude 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. Contend is an athletic term working towards a goal. With the word earnestly adding, we now understand this speaks of hard and diligent work. Evangelism is not optional. It is imperative. As we must be ready to give an answer, we must also earnestly contend for the faith for it is valuable. Two principles to remember... Answering the tough questions (Apologetics) is not about winning an argument (it s reasoning by thoughtful dialogue). Answering the tough questions (Apologetics) is an avenue to reaching someone with the Gospel. Not everyone I converse with about God, the Bible, the Gospel will choose to receive Jesus Christ as their Savior, but everything that I do talk about spiritual things, I want to leave them with something to think about. I. How do you know there is a God? Moral argument Romans 2:15 15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

2 If God does not exist, objective moral values do not exist. Objective moral values do exist. Therefore, God exists. Written on the heart of every man, woman, and child is an inner sense of right and wrong a natural law, a morality. There are moral laws that we find in all cultures, in all times (i.e. child abuse, stealing, rape, murder, etc.) Where did these moral laws come from? How do people from different cultures from different parts of the world share the same moral laws? The conclusion of this argument is that there must be a higher standard that higher standard is God. Even by arguing one is proving absolutes that there is a right and wrong. Cosmological Argument Genesis 1:1 1 IN the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Everything that exists or begins to exist has a cause. The universe exists and began to exist. The universe must have a cause. The cause of the universe is God. All that we see in the world has a beginning: people, animals, iphones, etc. Can you name one thing in this world that didn t have a cause? Falling dominoes: one domino started the line to fall There must be a First Cause or Unmoved Mover. One who has no beginning, Someone who is eternal, etc. that First Cause or Uncaused Mover is God.

3 Teleological argument Psalm 139:14 14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: Marvellous are thy works; And that my soul knoweth right well. William Paley ( ) formulated this argument (finding a watch in the field, naturally assume a watchmaker) and it is as follows: Human artifacts are products of intelligent design. The universe resembles human artifacts. Therefore the universe is a product of intelligent design. But the universe is complex and gigantic in comparison to human artifacts. Therefore, there probably is a powerful and vastly intelligent designer who created the universe. We have a complex and gigantic universe that points to a Creator with a plan. Irreducible complexity is a term used to describe a characteristic of certain complex systems whereby they need all of their individual component parts in place in order to function. Consider the mouse trap. If one part was missing, the trap would not work. There are many complex systems in the universe that if one part was missing, they would not function. How then could they have evolved? How are we to arrive at such complexity without a wise and creative creator? I think this argument touches the heart of people because it gives value, purpose, and hope to their existence. Even when a unbeliever ignores the truth in his or her own heart, the truth is still there. (Rom. 1:18-32) Romans 1:18 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Personal Testimony 2 Corinthians 5:17 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

4 Sharing your testimony why you decided to trust Jesus Christ as your Savior. This is powerful proof of the existence of God. Don t underestimate the power of your own testimony. People want to know Christianity works, not jut that you can prove it. I believe that everyone knows there is a God but they purposely ignore the truth of His existence. Psalm 14:1 1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, There is none that doeth good. II. How can there be a good God when there is evil and suffering in the world? It s incomprehensible to think of the pain, heartaches, and loss experienced in natural disasters, terrorist attacks, abuse of all kinds, violent crimes of all kinds, and disease. I would imagine that a high percentage in this very room know a family member or a close friend who has or had cancer. It shows the wide impact of pain, suffering, and evil that affects our world today. The Problem of Evil Many skeptics, atheists, etc. say that God doesn t exist because pain, suffering, evil exists in the world. Their argument (originator of the logical problem of evil has been cited as the Greek philosopher Epicurus) goes something like this: If an all powerful, all knowing, and all loving God exists, then evil does not. There is evil in the world. Therefore, an all powerful, all knowing, and all loving God does not exist. The problem of evil is more of a problem for the skeptic, atheist, etc. Why? Because if evil exists, then good must also exists. Who then defines what is good and what is evil? This brings us back to absolute Truth back to God. God is not evil. (James 1:13-15; Psalm 100:5; Mark 10:18; Psalm 119:68) Humans are to blame for evil. (Genesis 3:1-ff; Romans 3:10-12)

5 God has given us the ability to choose good and evil, and when we choose evil, He allows us, and those around us, to suffer the consequences of evil. You are not forced into a relationship with God, that would violate God s love; for an all-loving God cannot force someone to love Him. God didn t create evil, but God does allow evil to exist. God chose to create a real world in which real choices have real consequences. He didn t create robots. He didn t create mindless drones. He gave man, Adam and Eve, the ability to decide for themselves to obey God or to disobey God. God uses evil for His purposes. (Genesis 45:5, 50:20; Acts 2:23; Romans 8:28) God will one day eliminate all evil from this world. He will judge all all of mankind and punish those who have done evil. However, it is on His time table, not ours. Genesis 18:25 Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? III. Hasn t science proven evolution to be true and religion false? Genesis 1:1 IN the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Evolution is a theory. No matter what popular opinion says, evolution is not a fact. It takes as much faith to believe in evolution as it does to believe in God. The bacterial flagellum is an example of irreducible complexity. ( Science and Christianity Science can tell us about the natural world, physics, medicine, etc. It has its limits. Science cannot define morals (what is right & wrong), give the answer to human origins, answer the question what happens after death, or fully explain why we feel the way we feel. Science is not meant to be the ultimate source of truth or understanding, it was meant to be a way to gain a finite understanding of an infinite God. Science is not on the side of evolution, nor is Christianity in opposition to science.

6 Our universe is not a universe of randomness, confusion, or without structure. Nature is understandable, uniform, and observable (patterns, processes, laws, etc.). A Christian worldview answers the question why is nature understandable, uniform, and observable. The universe reflects the creativity knowledge and power of God. Use the teleological and cosmological argument. IV. How can a loving God send people to hell? Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: God s character demands a hell. God s character is perfect and He is fully just and fully holy. His perfect, holy nature demands that He cannot be in the presence of evil. Therefore, He can t allow those who are not perfect and holy as He to come into His eternal presence. The question is, How can a holy God not send people to hell? God s justice demands a hell. (Romans 2:1-3) God s love demands a hell. How can a loving God force people to be saved? He cannot that violates His character. Therefore, hell is the response to man s decision to not love God. (1 John 4:16; Matthew 22:37) God s sovereignty demands a hell. If there were no ultimate separation, good would not ultimately triumph and God would be in ultimate control. (1 Corinthians 15:24-28) Human depravity demands a hell. The only just punishment for sin against an eternal God is an eternal punishment. (Habakkuk 1:13; Matthew 5:48) God does not want anyone to perish but desires that all come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9). Sin separates us from God and we cannot fix this relationship on our own. (Ephesians 2:8-9) Jesus death on the cross paid our sin debt and His resurrection secured our everlasting life all one must do is receive this gift of salvation.

7 V. What about those who have never heard? This is a tough question to answer probably the hardest of the five. Two thoughts here: Understand that God s Word is at stake and God will keep His Word. 1 Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. God is not powerless to keep His Word. God will ensure that everyone has the opportunity to receive His salvation. The Gospel message must be heard for salvation to be received. Romans 10:13 15 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Following Paul s logic in these verses, one concludes... Salvation is calling on the name of the Lord. The only way to call on the Lord is to believe the Gospel. The only way to believe the Gospel is to hear the Gospel. The only way to hear the Gospel is to be told the Gospel. Therefore, there is no other way of salvation. (John 14:6) Conclusion Two common mistakes, Christians make in answering the tough questions. They don t use their Bible. Because they don t know it. Because they are told they can t use it You cannot use the Bible to prove the Bible. The skeptics, atheists, etc. will not surrender their beliefs or sources, neither should you.

8 Their answers are nonsensical and useless. Consider this statement: You will understand the Bible once you are saved. The problem is you aren t saved. Some truth to that statement; but people want to understand how you are convinced! Consider this statement: You don t need to answer their questions, just keep giving them the Gospel. When we don t listen and answer their questions, we show that we do not value them. Every question is an important question to the person asking, so treat it as such. Every Christian does not need to be a scholar of the Bible, but every Christian should strive to be a student of the Bible. 1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: In Acts, Paul is often said to reason with the unsaved. (Acts 17:2; 18:4, 19; 24:25; 28:29) Evangelism happens over a period of time. It s about building and maintaining relationships, not about a hit and run evangelism. Today s takeaway Ready people reach people