DEFENDING THE GOSPEL

OBJECTIONS AND THE GOSPEL MESSAGE

 

WHO IS GOD?

God is the King, Creator, and sustainer of all things.

Does God exist or communicate who He is to humans?

·          Psalm 19:1-2 “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge.”

·          Romans 1:18-21 God has revealed himself in nature  to such a degree that He will hold all people responsible for the knowledge.

·          God reveals aspects of who He is in creation, history, and our inner being. 1

·          We can challenge unbelievers to look at how reason, evidence, presuppositions, and their own experience speak of the God who has also revealed Himself in scripture.

·          2 Corinthians 4:4 We should not be surprised when people reject God’s communication as they also reject the message of the Gospel.

WHAT HAS GOD SAID ABOUT US?

We have broken God’s laws and as a result have become spiritually dead, separated from God, and residents of the Kingdom of Darkness.  If we remain in this state, will be sent to the Lake of Fire to suffer forever.

How can a God is perfectly good and all powerful allow evil to exist?

·          Romans 2:1-8  The very fact that people raise this question means that they are willing to pass judgment on the actions of others.  The question then becomes from where do they get their criteria for what is evil and do they also practice what they condemn?

·          Luke 13: 1-5 We can challenge unbelievers with their own convictions and how they fall short of the law God has placed in their heart.

·          Romans 9: 10-24 We need to have a firm grasp of what God has revealed about his purposes and humble ourselves in the face of aspects of His nature when do not yet comprehend.

WHAT HAS GOD DONE FOR US?

Jesus entered the Kingdom of Darkness, lived a perfect life, died for our sins, and was raised from the dead.

How do we know that Jesus is the answer to humankind’s desperate situation of being condemned by God for sin?  Did Jesus really exist?  Can we trust the Biblical record of His life?  Did he raise from the dead? 

·          Luke 1: 1-4  It was important to the authors of the New Testament that they accurately record the events of Christ’s life.

·          God displayed his provision of the Gospel in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection in history.  We can challenge unbelievers with the reliability of the historical record of what God has done for us..

WHAT DOES GOD REQUIRE OF US?

We must repent of sin, believe in Christ, and be baptized in response to the command of scripture.

Is Jesus really the only way to God?  What about those who have not heard the message of the Gospel?

·          John 14: 6 Jesus is clear about the exclusive offer of the Gospel through himself.

·          Acts 4: 11-12 He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the very corner stone. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.

1. Erickson, Millard, Christian Theology, Second Edition (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Books) 1998 Pg. 178