1. CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS: HISTORY

2. CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS A defense of Christian absolute universal truth as revealed to us by God in His inerrant, infallible, absolute, objective, eternal, sufficient, complete, authoritative Word. Apologetics is a worldview issue. You must know, believe, & live the Christian worldview. They are not neutral & you should not be.

3. 5 Arguments That Confirm & Support The Christian Worldview Scripture – Your primary source Pragmatic – How you live your life Experiential – Your personal testimony Preconditions for knowledge – Laws of logic, Uniformity of the universe, Reliability of our senses, Reliable memory, Moral Standard Evidences – God’s existence, Bible is truth, the Incarnation is true, the Resurrection is true.

4. 6 Basic Worldview Components Prime Reality – One Triune God Universe – Created from nothing by God People – Created in His image, Fallen by inheritance History Knowledge Moral Values, Moral Duties, Aesthetics

5. Creator – creature Distinction For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Col 1:16-17 (ESV) One Triune Creator God – Independent Infinite Authority Creation – Dependent & Finite

6. HISTORY In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Gen 1:1 (ESV) Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. Rev 21:1-2 (ESV) He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Rev 21:4 (ESV)

7. Major Stages of History Redemption Planned Creation Fall Incarnation Redemption Accomplished by Christ Redemption Applied by the Holy Spirit Glorification New Creation

8. TRUTHS ABOUT HISTORY God is sovereign over history – First Cause God began human history – Creation from nothing God actively sustains, guides, and governs all creation towards its appointed end – God’s Providence Created things have real natures, properties, and actions – secondary causes

9. Errors About God’s Providence Deism – God created then abandoned the universe – Created things are independent Pantheism – monism – all is God – Created things do not have distinct natures, properties or actions Chance, Luck, Randomness – Naturalism – Nothing is created – all is accidental serendipity Impersonal Fate – Determinism – Created things have distinct natures & properties, but no real actions

10. GOD’S PROVIDENCE Preservation – God keeps all created things existing & maintaining their created properties Concurrence – God cooperates with created things to cause them to act as they do Government – God rules all created things to accomplish His divine purposes.

11. GOD’S PROVIDENCE PRESERVATION in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. Heb 1:2-3 (ESV) For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Col 1:16-17 (ESV)

12. GOD’S PROVIDENCE PRESERVATON Provides the only basis for science – God sustains and preserves real, distinct created things – God sustains and preserves created things in universal, uniform, predictable ways – God sustains and preserves created things to maintain their natures and properties

13. GOD’S PROVIDENCE CONCURRENCE The Triune God is the first cause of everything & causes created things to act as they do Created things (secondary causes) are not independent of God Created things (secondary causes) are real Created things (secondary causes) have real meaningful actions Created things (secondary causes) are responsible for their actions – God is not

14. GOD’S PROVIDENCE CONCURRENCE Applies to every moment of history Applies to all events – good, tragic & evil Applies to all created things – Inanimate creation – Animals – Nations – Individuals

15. GOD’S PROVIDENCE CONCURRENCE Whatever the L ORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. 7 He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind from his storehouses. Psalms 135:6-7 (ESV) For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Matt 5:45 (ESV)

16. GOD’S PROVIDENCE CONCURRENCE Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. Matt 10:29-31 (ESV) For kingship belongs to the L ORD, and he rules over the nations. Psalms 22:28 (ESV)

17. GOD’S PROVIDENCE CONCURRENCE A man’s steps are from the L ORD ; Prov 20:24 (ESV) The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the L ORD ; he turns it wherever he will. Prov 21:1 (ESV) And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:19 (ESV)

18. GOD’S PROVIDENCE CONCURRENCE Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, Eph 1:3-5 (ESV)

19. GOD’S PROVIDENCE CONCURRENCE And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son… 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. Romans 8:28-30 (ESV)

20. GOD’S PROVIDENCE CONCURRENCE “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 (ESV) if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 (ESV) For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13 (ESV)

21. GOD’S PROVIDENCE CONCURRENCE Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. John 14:13-14 (ESV) You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. John 15:16 (ESV)

22. GOD’S PROVIDENCE CONCURRENCE The Triune God (first cause) controls all of our thoughts, words and actions every moment. Individuals (secondary causes) are real & distinct and make real willing choices with real eternal effects and are held accountable for those choices. The Triune God knows and has predetermined what we will freely choose and we are held accountable for our choices.

23. GOD’S PROVIDENCE CONCURRENCE God uses all things, even tragedy and evil to accomplish His purposes God (first cause) never does evil and is never to be blamed for evil God rightly holds individuals (secondary causes) accountable for the evil that they do God is not to be blamed for the tragedy and evil caused by inanimate creation, animals or nations (secondary causes)

24. GOD’S PROVIDENCE CONCURRENCE “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. Acts 2:22-23 (ESV)

25. GOD’S PROVIDENCE GOVERNMENT God governs and directs all things so that they accomplish His will, purposes and plans God’s revealed will – God’s moral commands for us – God’s desires God’s secret will – What happens in history governed by God

26. GOD’S PROVIDENCE GOVERNMENT For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” 1 Cor 15:27 (ESV) making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, Eph 1:9-11 (ESV)

27. GOD’S PROVIDENCE GOVERNMENT The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. 2 Peter 3:9-10 (ESV)

28. GOD’S PROVIDENCE God is actively sovereign over all creation – Preservation – Concurrence – Government God’s providence is a mystery God’s providence is not a contradiction

29. GOD’S PROVIDENCE APPLICATIONS God is in sovereign control over all creation We are responsible for our choices Our actions have real effects Those God has chosen will confess, repent, trust in Christ alone, and live for Him God has decided that evangelism & apologetics have real effects that change the course of events God has decided that prayer has real effects that change the course of events Do not be afraid, but trust in the Triune God Thank God for everything

30. GOD’S PROVIDENCE APPLICATIONS 10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 (ESV) Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you 1 Thess 5:16-18 (ESV)