The Essentials of Apologetics - Why Christianity (Part 3)?

Hope

In My World

For The

Why Christianity…?

Hurting

A Study in 1 Peter
www.confidentchristians.org

Introduction
The Questions of Life

The Essentials of Apologetics – Why Christianity: In My World

What Are The Key Questions In Life?
1.
2.
3.
4.

Where did I come from?
How should I live?
What is my purpose?
What happens when I die?


A Quick Comparison of Atheism and Christianity
Naturalistic/Atheist View

Theistic/Christian View

An eternal universe.
Ultimate reality is impersonal matter – no
God.
Everything we know came about by chance,
with no ultimate purpose.
Man is the product of impersonal matter plus
time plus chance. Consequent result is that
man has no ultimate dignity nor any meaning
than what is subjectively derived.

An eternal Creator.
Ultimate reality is an infinite, personal, loving
God.
Universe lovingly created by God for a
specific purpose.
Man is created by God in His image and is
loved by God; therefore all men are endowed
with eternal value and dignity which is not
derived from themselves but from a Source
transcending themselves.
Morality is defined by God and is immutable
because it is based on God’s unchanging
and holy character.

Morality is defined by every individual
according to his views and interests. It is
ultimately subjective as every person is the
final authority for their own views.
The afterlife brings personal annihilation and The afterlife involves either life with God or
extinction for everyone.
separation from Him.


Examining Atheism’s Answers
A Survey of Top Atheists


Atheism’s Answer to Our Origin
"We are here because one odd
group of fishes had a peculiar fin
anatomy that could transform into
legs for terrestrial creatures… We
may yearn for a 'higher' answer-but
none exists. This explanation,
though superficially troubling, if not
terrifying, is ultimately liberating
and exhilarating.‖
- Stephen J. Gould
Evolutionist

Atheism’s Answer to Our Origin

―Given the weaknesses of all theories
of terrestrial genesis, directed
panspermia [the deliberate planting
of life on Earth by aliens] should still
be considered a serious possibility.‖
-Francis Crick
Co-discoverer of DNA


Atheism’s Answer to How Morals Are Decided

―You have your way, I have my
way. As for the right way, it
does not exist.‖
- Frederick Nietzsche


Atheism’s Answer to How Morals Are Decided

―Natural selection can favor
egotism, hedonism, cowardice
instead of bravery, cheating,
and exploitation.‖
-Theodosius Dobzhansky
Evolutionary Biologist


Atheism’s Answer to Your Purpose in Life
―Humans have always
wondered about the
meaning of life...life has no
higher purpose than to
perpetuate the survival of
DNA...life has no design, no
purpose, no evil and no
good, nothing but blind
pitiless indifference‖
- Richard Dawkins

Atheism’s Answer to Your Purpose in Life

―We're just a bit of pollution….
If you got rid of us…the
universe would be largely the
same. We're completely
irrelevant.‖
-Lawrence Krauss
Physicist


Atheism’s Answer to Life After Death

―You get buried."
-Richard Dawins
When asked what happens after you die


Summarizing Atheism’s Answers
―When Darwin deduced the theory of
natural selection to explain the
adaptations in which he had previously
seen the handiwork of God, he knew
that he was committing cultural murder.
He understood immediately that if
natural selection explained adaptations,
and evolution by descent were true,
then the argument from design was
dead and all that went with it, namely
the existence of a personal god, free
will, life after death, immutable moral
laws, and ultimate meaning in life.‖
- William Provine, Evolutionist

If Atheism’s Answers Are True, Then…
―There is only one really
serious philosophical problem
and that is suicide. Deciding
whether or not life is worth
living is to answer the
fundamental question in
philosophy.‖
- Albert Camus

Examining Christianity’s Answers
What Does God Say?


God’s Answer To Our Origin

―In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.‖
- Genesis 1:1

God’s Answer To Our Origin

―Then God said, ―Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them
rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all
the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.‖ God created man in
His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.‖
- Genesis 1:26–27

God’s Answer To How We Are To Live

―You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all
your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love
your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the
Prophets.‖
- Matthew 22:37–40

God’s Answer To Whether We Have A Purpose

――For I know the plans I have for you,‖ declares the LORD, ―plans to prosper you
and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.‖‖
- Jeremiah 29:11


What Brings Meaning in Life?
• Sense of wonder – removes boredom and monotony
• Knowledge of truth – supplies confidence and freedom
• Experience of love – greatest of all things
• Security – removes anxiety and enables peace


All Delivered in God
• Sense of wonder – ―Oh, the depth of the riches both of the
wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His
judgments and unfathomable His ways!‖ – Romans 11:33
• Knowledge of Truth – ―…you will know the truth, and the truth
will make you free.‖ – John 8:31
• Experience of Love – ―In this is love, not that we loved God,
but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for
our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love
one another.‖ – 1 John 4:10-11
• Security – ―For the gifts and the calling of God are
irrevocable.‖ – Romans 11:29

God’s Answer To Life After Death

―For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever
believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.‖
- John 3:16

What is God’s Good News?
The Gospel of Jesus Christ


The ―So What‖ Question of Christianity

Does God really care
about me?


God Loves You Right Now – No Matter Who You Are

―For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God‖ (Romans 3:23)
• It can be hard to admit that you’ve made mistakes, but the truth is, we all have.
• The wrong you’ve done in your life has separated you from God.
• But even so, God is willing to forgive you.


God Has Provided A Way For You

―For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will
hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare
even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we
shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him‖ (Romans 5:6–9)

• The great news is that, even though there’s nothing you can do to help yourself and
reconcile yourself to God, God has already done that for you.
• Jesus came to take the punishment you deserve for all the wrong you’ve committed and
gives you forgiveness and eternal life with God instead.

How Do I Receive God’s Forgiveness and Grace?

―If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that
God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved‖ (Romans 10:9)
• Your part is asking God for His forgiveness, turning away from your past wrongs, and
receiving Christ as your Lord and Savior.
• If you haven’t done so, why not pray to God right now and do this?


You Mean That’s It?

―For it is by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works so that no one can
boast‖ (Ephesians 2:8-9)
• When it comes to receiving forgiveness and salvation from God, yes.
• However, it is only the start of a new life that you begin living with God.


Am I Really Safe And Secure With God?

―There is therefore now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus‖
(Romans 8:1)
• Yes, you have received God’s forgiveness and are eternally safe with God.
• All your past wrongs, as well as any future wrongs you may commit, have been paid for
by the work of Jesus on the cross.
• Jesus’ resurrection ensures that death is not the end for you.
• As a member of God’s family, you will now spend eternity with Him.

Conclusions
Final Thoughts


So Does God Really Care About Me?
• He cares enough to overcome all the
wrong you’ve ever committed.
• He cares enough to save you and help
you live in the way you were created to
live.
• He cares enough to give meaning and
purpose to you.
• He cares enough to equip you to enjoy
everlasting life with Him.


So Does God Really Care About Me?

―God showed how much he loved us
by sending his one and only Son into
the world so that we might have
eternal life through him. This is real
love—not that we loved God, but that
he loved us and sent his Son as a
sacrifice to take away our sins‖
(1 John 4:9–10)


For More Information/Presentations

www.powerpointapologist.org
www.confidentchristians.org

For More Apologetics Resources

www.apologetics315.com

The Essentials of Apologetics - Why Christianity (Part 3)?

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