Apologetics

Jesus used His miraculous works to prove His divinity. The listeners still tried to kill Him, but it was not due to a fault in His reasoning or the quality of His evidence. We too need to be prepared to accept the consequences of claiming Christ, often after presenting irresistible logic.

• John 10:22-39 HCSB Then the Festival of Dedication took place in Jerusalem, and it was winter. Jesus was walking in the temple complex in Solomon's Colonnade. Then the Jews surrounded Him and asked, "How long are You going to keep us in suspense? If You are the Messiah, tell us plainly." "I did tell you and you don't believe," Jesus answered them. "The works that I do in My Father's name testify about Me. But you don't believe because you are not My sheep. My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish--ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. The Father and I are one." Again the Jews picked up rocks to stone Him. Jesus replied, "I have shown you many good works from the Father. Which of these works are you stoning Me for?" "We aren't stoning You for a good work," the Jews answered, "but for blasphemy, because You--being a man--make Yourself God." Jesus answered them, "Isn't it written in your law, I said, you are gods? If He called those whom the word of God came to 'gods'--and the Scripture cannot be broken-- do you say, 'You are blaspheming' to the One the Father set apart and sent into the world, because I said: I am the Son of God? If I am not doing My Father's works, don't believe Me. But if I am doing them and you don't believe Me, believe the works. This way you will know and understand that the Father is in Me and I in the Father." Then they were trying again to seize Him, yet He eluded their grasp.

We are to be prepared to answer others who question our faith regardless of the consequences. However, we need to make sure that we maintain a gentle, respectful spirit and back our logic up with righteous living.

• 1 Peter 3:14-17 HCSB But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear or be disturbed, but set apart the Messiah as Lord in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. However, do this with gentleness and respect, keeping your conscience clear, so that when you are accused, those who denounce your Christian life will be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

Sometimes our greatest opponents will be jealous people who long for preeminence.

• Acts 17:2-5 HCSB As usual, Paul went to them, and on three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and showing that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead, and saying: "This is the Messiah, Jesus, whom I am proclaiming to you." Then some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, including a great number of God-fearing Greeks, as well as a number of the leading women. But the Jews became jealous, and when they had brought together some scoundrels from the marketplace and formed a mob, they set the city in an uproar. Attacking Jason's house, they searched for them to bring them out to the public assembly.

Apollos eloquently debated others concerning the faith. He was humble enough to accept that he didn’t know it all. As a result his ability to refute false doctrine and vain human philosophy was substantially improved and he became greatly helpful.

• Acts 18:24-28 HCSB A Jew named Apollos, a native Alexandrian, an eloquent man who was powerful in the Scriptures, arrived in Ephesus. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught the things about Jesus accurately, although he knew only John's baptism. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. After Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him home and explained the way of God to him more accurately. When he wanted to cross over to Achaia, the brothers wrote to the disciples urging them to welcome him. After he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace. For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating through the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah.

We are to be salty – preserving the spiritual and moral health of the world while simultaneously adding “zest”.

• Matthew 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It's no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled on by men.

We are to enlighten the world.

• Matthew 5:14-16 HCSB "You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

We should be prepared to contend for the faith.

• Jude 1:3-4 HCSB Dear friends, although I was eager to write you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write and exhort you to contend for the faith that was delivered to the saints once for all. For certain men, who were designated for this judgment long ago, have come in by stealth; they are ungodly, turning the grace of our God into promiscuity and denying our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Paul gave us a good example of someone who was intellectually flexible enough to debate both Jews and Gentiles.

• Acts 17:2-5 HCSB As usual, Paul went to them, and on three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and showing that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead, and saying: "This is the Messiah, Jesus, whom I am proclaiming to you." Then some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, including a great number of God-fearing Greeks, as well as a number of the leading women.
• Acts 18:4, 19 He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and tried to persuade both Jews and Greeks… When they reached Ephesus he left them there, but he himself entered the synagogue and engaged in discussion with the Jews.

We are commanded to test all things, clinging to the good and rejecting the evil.

• 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 HCSB but test all things. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every form of evil.

Though we may use scientific or logical principles, our ultimate standard is the Word of God.

• 2 Timothy 3:16-17 HCSB All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
• Hebrews 4:12 HCSB For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as to divide soul, spirit, joints, and marrow; it is a judge of the ideas and thoughts of the heart.