What is Christian Apologetics?

Christian Apologetics

Christians need to know what they believe and how to defend and share their faith! The Apostle  Peter made this plain as he wrote to the Christians in Asia Minor in the first century saying, ” 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;” (1 Peter 3:15 ) This he wrote to the average Christian in the pew, so to speak. It is one of my passions to help my Brothers and Sisters in Christ fulfill this command.

Ready To Give An Answer – LESSON AUDIO

I had the opportunity last Saturday to meet with a few of them and share my most recent paper on the subject which I wrote for my current seminary studies at The North American Reformed Seminary.   We all need to be “Ready To Give An Answer.” I encourage you to check out the paper, its the post on the blog here entitled Ready To Give An Answer. Isn’t that convenient? You can listen and read as I read and discuss the paper in the lesson above or just read or listen.

A friend of mine who is an apologist himself said this of the paper, ” it’s one of the most concise, clear and useful short expositions on the matter that I’ve seen.” you can check out his ministry, Applied Apologetics. Read, listen, learn and enjoy! I pray that the Lord strengthens you as you share the Gospel with those He bring across your path.

In Christ!

Kevin

By Him, Through Him, For Him [Colossians Pt. 5]

By Him, Through Him, For Him

Who’s in charge around here? Sometimes it seems like the bad guys are winning. But, as the old hymn reminds us, “This is my Father’s world, O let me never forget, that tho’ the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.” Our discouragement is often from a lack of understanding and trusting in God’s control. The Colossians struggled with this too. They had been a part of a culture that was very superstitious and who thought that angels influenced the events of the world. Fear ruled their lives because they did not understand that Christ is over everything.

Colossians 1:15-17 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  16  For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.  17  And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

Being the visible representation of the invisible God, Creator of all things visible and invisible which includes the very idea of authority, there is nothing that overrules Jesus Christ! Verse 16 gives a list of authorities that relate to the invisible realm; angels or demons who exert influence in the visible realm. “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.” and yet we see that they too were created by Christ, through Christ and for Christ. Their authority is derived. The influence that they wield is only through the filter of His control. Like the Devil and his attack on Job, it comes through the permission of God for the benefit of His people.

We often forget that we live in a fallen world that is cursed because of our own sin. We expect that if God is good then life should be trouble-free. On the contrary, if God is good we should all be consigned to eternal torment because of our rebellion against Him as the source of all goodness. We are the evil in the world and should be eradicated by the Good God who rules the universe. Yet, He chooses to show mercy and compassion to us through the Cross of Christ. As redeemed people we live in that fallen world where the fruit of sin is constantly ripening around us. And yet we live in the midst of that world under the authority of the One who rules all. He will bring us through the difficulties of this world and carry us to His appointed end because He is in charge.

Romans 8:31-39 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  32  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?  33  Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.  34  Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.  35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  36  As it is written: “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE KILLED ALL DAY LONG; WE ARE ACCOUNTED AS SHEEP FOR THE SLAUGHTER.”  37  Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  38  For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,  39  nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We can derive great comfort from this as His children. He is just in His judgment of sinners who continue to rebel. He is caring for and protecting His own. He will govern all things to His appointed end and there is no power in the created realm, whether visible or invisible that can thwart His will. Is the the God that you worship today? Can you trust Him to do what He knows is right?

Audio from this message is available by clicking the link below.

By Him, Through Him, For Him

In Christ!
Kevin