Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case For Biblical Faith

Sometimes when we hear the word justification we find it accompanied by other “ation” words: sanctification, glorification, propitiation, regeneration and imputation. These words are from time to time used interchangeably. This can be confusing and needs to be clarified before continuing. Imputation is where credit has been given. It can also mean to lay responsibility on someone. With God, imputation is where He accounts righteousness to the believer. Sanctification is separate from justification. Justification is about one’s position with God; sanctification is about one’s spiritual condition. Propitiation is defined in “Reformation tradition as the satisfaction of divine wrath upon sin”. Regeneration is the creation of a new heart and new spirit. This change of heart and spirit is what allows us to live righteous lives. Glorification comes once we receive our heavenly reward. It is the completion of our salvation.

For what is your faith if it can’t stand against rigorous and complex provocation. I look at my own faith how I can become complacent with where I am, focusing on other things instead of what truly matters. I sink back to what is comfortable and satisfying to me rather than seeking out growing and maturing my faith. It is easier to just put faith on the back burner, so it’s still cooking, but I say to myself I need to finish cooking high school first, or let me get through college first. These are excuses and dishonoring to the one who gifts me grace and mercy through every breath and thought I have.

The connection between faith and reason has been a discussion since early Christianity. This discussion has always had people supporting each side with each having genuine thoughts on whether faith and reason can or cannot work together. However before tackling this faith and reason should be defined according to Scripture. Faith according to Scripture is, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1, [NIV]) Now reason is a little less straight forward in Scriptures but gives many examples of reason. One example is, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15, [NIV]) As well gives this example, “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” (James 3:17, [ESV]) Along with “And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” (Colossians 1:9, [ESV])

• Writes about James, brother of Jesus, who was called the Christ. Stoned to death in A.D. 62. Pg.78

Christian faith lies between the two extremes of fideism and rationalism, that is, between faith with no reason and reason with no faith. Scripture, the main source of Christian tradition, provides us with information about God and what it means to be Christian. An analysis of works and arguments by early church fathers offers tools to engage scripture, including levels of belief and defining faith in the context of society and moderation. Specifically, Augustine and McCabe present arguments concerning faith in the validity of scripture and proofs that a belief in Christianity is reasonable and true. Therefore, a valid assertion can be made that reason plays an important and necessary role in Christian faith.

Faith and reason can be viewed as opposites. Faith is an element of belief, something an individual does not necessarily require a reason for accepting without reason. For example, an individual’s reason for believing in God may not seem too rational when they are trying to explain them. They may not even stand up to criticism. On the other hand, reason is constructed as a formula. Faith is basically something we believe in, like something we learn in church. Reason is something we learn in school, such as a math formula.

For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” 2 Cor. 4: 18 (NIV). “God has faith or confidence in his own spoken word. God created the universe by his spoken word so, "that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen. Heb. 11:3.” A biblical view on faith does not begin in looking at the New Testament or with looking over the old, but looking at the fact that faith has always existed with God. By faith worlds were framed and by his words he created them. Faith has always been, just as God has always been. Christians focus their eyes on the things they cannot see, yet faith is critical in receiving anything from God. Faith is based on knowledge of God, not just simple trust or blind trust but knowing the One who is leading and guiding on a daily basis. And in some ways just like the worldly view, the biblical view is from the standpoint of having a greater faith based off of historical evidence, not only in personal testimonies but those in the bible that encourage and build a greater

With the use of Apologetics strategies I must have a willingness to allow God to work through me to open the unbeliever’s eyes and ears so that they can discover God and seek out His loving goodness for mankind. McGrath concludes that Apologetics main aim is to lead people to God, and I agree with him on this key idea in Apologetics (McGrath, page 41). To effectively lead people to Jesus one must be able to fully understand their relationship with the Lord. This would include the understanding of key doctrinal components of the Christian faith to the point that they can be explained in simple terms. These components would include the existence of God and the Trinity, the extension of grace to mankind through Jesus, and the cross of Christ is the only place one can find forgiveness for sins. McGrath’s lays out his key components as the cross and resurrection of Christ, the cross’ healing abilities in a

Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith is a formidable case in favor of Christian theism from the ground-up covering all major evidences along with responses to common objections. In chapter 17: “The Uniqueness of Humanity,” Groothuis develops the challenge that consciousness and cognition constitute for materialism and proposes arguments in favor of biblical substance dualism. The relationship between mind and brain remains a mystery explicable in a theistic worldview. Ironically, scientific descriptions of reality in terms of matter require and presuppose consciousness, given that scientists construct these descriptions! The conundrum for the materialist is that he/she has to be able to explain thoughts and truth via

The debate over faith and reason has existed for as long as philosophy has been in existence itself. Ancient Athenian scholars began engaged each other over matters surrounding what was good or bad right or wrong just or unjust pious or impious moral or immoral among others. Athenian scholars such as Socrates had these scholarly debates and engaged in these scholarly escapades and debates long before the coming of Jesus Christ of Nazareth and the subsequent advent of the Christian faith (Choi & Sciglitano pp 25). This is a clear indication that the human beings have always sought some basis and safe secure grounding of what they believed in and deemed to be the right thing to believe in. while most ancient societies such as the ancient roman

Plato states, “We are twice armed if we fight with faith.” meaning that Faith is the compelling force that strengthens us. Faith is said to be the driving force within our lives. But to know how and why faith is such a significant power we must first understand what it is. Faith is what guides us on our finite path of life, for faith is our significant reason for living. The hope that our death will open the doors to the infinite is what drives us to lead a moral life and make moral decisions. This concept of faith has ruled all life throughout history and has caused humans to make moral decisions and live moral lives. Philosophers such as Leo Tolstoy, and Paul Tillich believe in faith, in such a way, while Freud believes that faith is

The two camps are: presuppositional and evidential. The first, presuppositional apologetics, isn't inclined to wrestle with scientific data like cosmology, biology and the like. Made popular by the Cornelius Van Til, this approach doesn't see the need for such evidences due to the presupposition that the unregenerate mind cannot comprehend the truth of

It has been such a pleasure taking your class and getting to know you this year. Your sense of sarcasm and easy-going nature always made class so enjoyable and fun! My faith has never been seriously questioned so studying apologetics this year really changed my point of view concerning atheists and why they believe there is no god. Thanks to you, I feel like I can more adequately defend my faith in my next step in life. I feel like the most appropriate way to write this essay is to highlight a few arguments and ideas that have stuck with me the most. Before this however, I would like to define apologetics and why we study it. Apologetics is the intellectual argument for a belief such as the existence of God. We are studying apologetics not to make others believe in God, but to be able to defend our own belief in Him so that others arguments against his

Romans which is a letter from Paul by reveals answers to important questions and is able to supply us with information on multiple topics. In chapters 1-8 Paul discusses the fundamentals and the foundation of Christian faith. Looking for things through the text in the Romans such as (1) the natural world, (2) human identity, (3) human relationships, and (4) culture.

Pope John Paul II once said, “Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth; and God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth – in a word, to know himself – so that, by knowing and loving God, men and women may also come to the fullness of truth about themselves.” (Fallible Blogma) Based on this significant and powerful quote, one can infer that faith and reason are directly associated and related. It can also be implied that the combination of faith and reason allows one to seek information and knowledge about truth and God; based on various class discussions and past academic teachings, it is understood that both faith and reason are the instruments that diverse parties