ABRIDGED SEMINAR - PART 2

ABRIDGED SEMINAR - PART 2 Student s Name:

Part 7: A Review of the First Half of the Course Worldview Common Ground What we want to Convince them Existentialism and Nihilismo Validity of Experiences That there is a coherente reality. Naturalism Laws of Logic and Science That there is a supernatural cause.. Pantheism y Polytheism Belief in the Supernatural That the Creator (singular) is personal. Islam Belief in Monotheism That their understanding of God is wrong. Judaism Monotheism and the Old Testament That Jesus is the Messiah of their own prophecies. 2

Part 8: Christian Worldviews Christianity The Bible is Autoritative. The Bible is NOT Authoritative. Bible + something is Authoritative. Bible alone is Authoritative. + the Church or Tradition Literal Interpretation Non-Literal Interpretation + other Scriptures + Experiences Receive the Gospel Reject the Gospel + Science So, The new questions are... 1. Why should I believe the Bible is authoritative? 2. Why should I believe that only the Bible is authoritative? 3. Why should I interpret the Bible literally? 4. Why should I receive the gospel? 3

Part 9: The Authority of the Bible 3 Reasons to believe in the Authority of the Bible:! 1. Because it is historically accurate. There are no contradictions between what we know from history and what the Bible affirms. So then, it is reasonable to believe that there are no contradictions in that which we do not know of history.! 2. Because its divine origin was confirmed by signs, wonders and! miracles. Hebrews 2:1-4 We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.! *This implies that all future prophecies will be fulfilled too. 4

! 3. Because its divine origin was confirmed by Old Testament! prophecies. Human beings cannot predict the future with such accuracy. Only God can. Therefore, God must have inspired the prophets. 2 Peter 1:20-21 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet s own interpretation of things. 21For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 5

Part 10: The Sufficiency of the Bible Why should I believe that the Bible alone is authoritative? The Meaning of Sufficiency 1. Everything in the Bible is completely true. 2. Anything that contradicts the Bible is false. 3. The Bible contains everything we need for life and godliness. (2 Peter 1:3). 4. The Bible contains everything we need to accomplish every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). 5. We should filter everything we learn through the Bible. What it does not mean: 1. It does not mean that all truths/facts are found in the Bible. 2. It does not mean that there are no truths outside of Scriptures. 3. It does not mean that all truths outside the Bible are irrelevent. 6

What about supplemental Authorities like the Church or the Pope? Some, like the Catholics, believe that The Church has the same authority as the Scriptures. (This doctrine is called Papal authority. ) It comes from a misinterpretation of Matthew 16:17-18. Matthew 16:17-18 Jesus replied, Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. Catholics believe that... 1. Peter was the rock that would build the Church. 2. Peter was the first of many popes who would have authority over the Church. 3. Peter s authority was equal to that of the Scriptures, and that he could pass that authority on to future Popes. 7

Problems: 1. The rock of Matthew 16 is the affirmation that Jesus was the Christ, the son of the living God. (See v. 16.) According to other passages of the Bible, this concept is sceen as the foundation of the Church! (See 1 Corinthians 1:23, 15:1-8, 2 Corinthians 2:12, 4:5*, Acts 10:25-26 y Ephesians 3:8.) 2. If Peter were the Pope, he would have had authority over the primitive Church. However, at the Council of Jerusalem, Peter strongly disagreed with Paul, but both submitted to the leadership of James - the leader of the Church in Jerusalem (Acts 15:13). 3. Papal history is scattered at best, at times having 2 recognized Popes. 4. Many Popes have authoritatively made proclamations that later had to be retracted / recanted. Example: The Catholic Church killed many people for believing that the world was round, because the Pope had said that it was flat. Eventually, they had to recant the proclamation or lose all credibility. 8

What about supplemental Authorities like other Holy Writings? Example: Some believe that the Bible is authoritative, but they add other Scriptures like The Book of Mormon of the Mormon faith or The Watchtower Society of the Jehovah s Witnesses. Problem: These writings are not found in the Divine Chain of Authority. God God wrote the 10 Commandments with his own hand, 10 Plagues, Miracles of Moses, Red Sea, etc. (Exodus 5:2, 10:1-3, 14:30) Moses Prophets Christ Apostles In the books of Moses, God announced that he would use prophets (Deuteronomy 18:14-22 and 1 Peter 1:19-21). The prophets announced his coming in the O.T. Being God, Christ s words carry divine authority (Matthew 9:4-8, 28:18). Christ transferred this authority to the apostles (Matthew 10:1, Mark 6:6-7 y Acts 1:7-8). New Testament The collection of the apostles writings is called the New Testament. END OF REVELATION Supplemental Scriptures? 1 Corinthians 13 warned the primitive Church that prophetic revelation was going to end soon (implied within their lifetimes.) 9

2 Examples of Supplemental Scriptures : 1. The Apocrypha There is no apostolic authority. Many texts contradict the New Testament, so any other information must be held in suspect. 2. The Book of Mormon The plates of Nephi returned to heaven before they could be proven to exist. Joseph Smith himself had no connection to the apostles, nor could he reproduce their signs and miracles to confirm his message. 10

What about supplemental Authorities like Science? Example: Psychology Some believe that the Bible is true, but that we need something more if we are ever to be at peace or find meaning in this life. Many Christians believe that the answers to our sin problems must be found in the study of psychology. However, the Bible affirms in Ephesians 4 that there is only one solution to overcoming our sin. So if we are struggling with sin, we must use the method found in the Bible to overcome it. We will need nothing more (2 Peter 3:1 and 2 Timothy 3:16-17.) Can psychology be helpful? Yes, of course. Psychology, like any other science, can be helpful so long as...... It is actually scientific.!! Much of what we call science is too subjective to be!! considered true science.!... It does not contradict Scripture.!... It is not accepted as true before examining it through Scripture.!! We should filter everything through the Scriptures. 11

What about supplemental Authorities like Personal Experience? Example: Charismatics Many charismatics believe that God continues to guide believers through personal experiences. While this is true in part, many times these experiences exclude or usurp God s Word. Many will seek God s will for a specific circumstance they are going through via dreams, audible voices, visions and strong emotions. Problems: 1.! Feelings are not trustworthy. We ar at war with the old nature (See 1 Corinthians 7). Many times we can confuse our selfish desires with the voice of God. We have a feeling that actually comes from our desires, and not from God. Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? 12

2.! Our experiences can be flawed. Oftentimes, we don t perceive things the way they actually are. For example: Magicians can do things that seem supernatural, but they are just tricks. Also, 2 people can witness the same accident and have 2 completely different perspectives of who bears the fault. If something seems to contradict the Bible, we should assume our perception is wrong. 3.! The Scriptures never transfers that authority to our experiences. At times, our experiences seem to contradict the Bible, but we trust in our experiences. The Gift of Tongues: According to the Bible, the gift of tongues was to cease during the lifetime of the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 13:8). As a refutation, many charismatics say, But I have spoken in tongues. So then, their personal experience has become a higher authority than the Bible. 13

Part 11: Literal Interpretation of the Bible Some hold that the Bible teaches truths, though it isn t actually true. The Ugly Duckling: Take The Ugly Duckling as an illustration. Even though it is not a true story, it teaches a true moral lesson. Many see the Bible that way. Some Examples: 1.! The Story of Adam and Eve!!! Some say that Adam and Eve were not real people, but that they merely represent mankind and womankind. The story is meant to teach us to avoid temptations. 2.! The Exodus Account!! Some hold that it never actually happened. It s just a story to teach us that God hates slavery. 14

3.! The Story of the Resurrection! Some say that the physical body of Christ never! resurrected; but that his teachings of love were! resurrected by his followers. Problems: 1.! The Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled! literally. 2.! The O.T. accounts correspond with human history. 3.! Both Testaments are held together genealogically. 4.! The apostles held to a literal interpretation of the! Scriptures. 5.! If the Bible were not interpreted literally, all! preaching would be in vain. (See 1 Corinthians! 15:1-8, 12-24.) 15

1 Corinthians 15:1-8, 12-24: Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 6After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. 12But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. 20But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 16

3 Essential Beliefs according to 1 Corinthians 15: 1.! The Gospel (v. 3) 2.! A Literal Interpretation of the Bible (v. 3-4) 3.! A Closed Canon of Scriptures (v. 5-7) 17

Part 12: Why should I accept the gospel? CHOICE RECEIVE REJECT 18

Are Heaven and Hell real? I. The Reality of Heaven: There are more than 600 references to heaven in the Bible. One is Colosians 1:3-5. Colosians 1:3-5 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God s people 5the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel. Of course, not everyone will go to Heaven; only those who are saved. How does one receive salvation? Romans 10:9-10 If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. Some other great verses on Salvation: John 10:9, Acts 2:21, Acts 4:12, 15:11, 16:31, Romans 5:9-10, 1 Corinthians 1:18, 15:2, and Ephesians 2:8-9. 19

The Reality of Hell: God will judge the good and the evil. (See Ecclesiastes 3:17, Romans 2:16, 2 Timothy 4:1). Here are some descriptions of Hell: 20