Apologetics: The Basics
Session 3 – Truth is Knowable
Review Introduction:
1. series is not like or not, not what works or not, it’s about what is true or not…
2. FINAL MENTION about our attitudes…
Believer: 3 THINGS:
- non-believer is loved as much as you…
- Ephesians 2 tells us it is what HE did, NOT what we have done…
- Evangelism- one beggar showing another beggar where the food is
- Jesus saved his harshest words for arrogant, religious know-it-alls
…either do Apologetics with gentleness and respect or don’t do it at all
Non-believer 2 THINGS:
- Christian arrogance is NOT because of Christianity, but in spite of it
- Christian attitude is not a reflection of true/false
- Churchs Great Blunder
- Bible says faith is NOT just a matter of the heart alone
- Faith: an active trust built on a foundation of truth
- “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is useless…If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied” (1Cor 15:17-19)
- Arguments+Evidence but ‘ultimate question’ is Who Is Jesus. If we are right, this is THE most important question…
- Tactics: Columbo, Suicide, Taking the Roof Off, Steamroller … start using them today…
Four Points – Point One – Truth is Knowable
- Truth is knowable
- God exists
- The New Testament is historically reliable
- Jesus proved he is God
How would you respond to the following comments?
- Truth is always relative to the interpretation of the individual.
- There is no such thing as truth.
- We can’t know for sure what is true.
- You shouldn’t push your morality on others.
- You shouldn’t judge other people.
Relativism – Truth is always relative to the interpretation of the individual.
In other words, what is true for you may not be true for me.
NOTE: we DO have our own perspectives and experiences…
The Problem
It is impossible to argue against the existence of absolute truth, without making a claim of absolute truth.
‘Self-refuting’ statements. {Suicide tactic = IRRATIONAL}
Examples of Self-Refuting Statements
- I can’t speak a word of English.
- It is impossible to make a sentence with more than three words.
- Everything is meaningless.
- Nobody goes there anymore, it’s too crowded.
What is wrong with this picture?
Truth is always relative to the interpretation of the individual.
What is wrong with this picture?
There is no such thing as truth.
What is wrong with this picture?
Okay, so maybe absolute truth DOES exist, but we can’t know for sure what is true.
What is wrong with this picture?
You shouldn’t push your morality on others.
What is wrong with this picture?
You shouldn’t judge other people.
Relativism is self-refuting and irrational.
NO “open mindedness” in a real relative world
NO arguing against another’s position in a truly relative world
Pluralism – Religious relativism.
What is wrong with this picture?
We can’t know anything for certain about God.
What is wrong with this picture?
Every religion with unique truth claims is wrong.
What is wrong with this picture?
All roads lead to God.
Whats REALLY going on…
Everyone DOES have their own worldview…
BUT, this does NOT mean you cannot come to rational and confident conclusions about the world around you…
This is how EVERYONE lives
“Probability is the sole ground on which finite human beings can make rational conclusions.”
– being unable to come to rational conclusions by connecting with reality is not a worldview..it’s a mental disorder
Relativism and his religious cousin, Pluralism, are self-refuting and irrational.
Next session…atheism…at least it COULD be true
You can choose to live your life on an irrational basis, but wouldn’t you rather have a better way?
A Rational View
- God exists or he does not.
- We are reincarnated or we are not.
- Jesus was the Messiah or he was not.
- Jesus was Resurrected or he was not.
All religions may be false, but all religions cannot be true.
The goal of Pluralism is peace, the price is truth.
Rational conclusion: truth IS knowable. And next session we will make the case that the truth is…God exists.
Know WHAT you believe!
Know WHY you believe it!
Be an ambassador for Jesus Christ!
*** all credits to Greg Koukl, Frank Beckwith and Paul Copan ***