1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:25,000 ♪♪ 2 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:28,000 It has been famously said somewhere by someone 3 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:30,000 that the Bible is like a lion. 4 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:34,000 Just let it out of its cage and it will defend itself. 5 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:37,000 Now, that sounds cool, but that is definitely not 6 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:39,000 the biblical picture that we get in terms of 7 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:42,000 doing apologetics and defending the Christian faith. 8 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:46,000 It's true that God doesn't need us to defend him, 9 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:49,000 but it's also true that God doesn't need me to feed my children. 10 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:52,000 Yet, God has ordained means 11 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:54,000 whereby certain ends are accomplished. 12 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:57,000 And it is, I consider, an honor and a pleasure 13 00:00:57,000 --> 00:01:01,000 to be part of the means whereby the gospel of Jesus Christ 14 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:04,000 is defended in the world today. 15 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:08,000 And so, God calls us to engage in what we call apologetics. 16 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:12,000 And so, this here is part one of a six-part series 17 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:15,000 that will talk about presuppositional apologetics, 18 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:18,000 more formally and more colloquially, 19 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:20,000 biblical apologetics. 20 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:22,000 And so, we're going to dive deep into different aspects 21 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:24,000 of this apologetic methodology. 22 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:27,000 And so, I welcome you and hope that this series 23 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:31,000 is beneficial and educating for everyone who listens. 24 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:34,000 So, I have six objectives in this first part. 25 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:37,000 First, I want to define key terms. 26 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:39,000 I want to unpack key assumptions. 27 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:42,000 I want to explore the nature of unbelief. 28 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:45,000 We're also going to survey the biblical grounds for apologetics. 29 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:47,000 And we're going to talk a little bit about the importance 30 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:50,000 of establishing the certainty of our faith 31 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:52,000 as opposed to the probability of our faith. 32 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:54,000 And then, we're going to explore the question, 33 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:57,000 how do we proceed in the apologetic task? 34 00:01:57,000 --> 00:01:59,000 So, that's kind of the outline that I'm going to be following 35 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:01,000 in our first part here. 36 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:03,000 So, let's take a look. 37 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:05,000 I'm going to start with a simple definition, 38 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:07,000 and then I'm going to give a more nuanced 39 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:10,000 and sophisticated definition of apologetics. 40 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:11,000 Okay? 41 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:13,000 Now, the simple definition of apologetics 42 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:15,000 is simply to defend the faith. 43 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:16,000 It's to give an answer. 44 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:20,000 And everyone is familiar with the popular Scripture passage, 45 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:22,000 1 Peter 3, verse 15, 46 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:24,000 which we will be exploring in this lesson. 47 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:27,000 But to give an apologia is simply to give an answer, 48 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:28,000 to make a defense. 49 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:30,000 However, since we're covering 50 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:32,000 what we call presuppositional apologetics, 51 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:36,000 which is connected with the Christian philosopher, 52 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:37,000 Cornelius Van Til, 53 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:40,000 I want to give Van Til's definition of apologetics. 54 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:43,000 And it's here that I think is going to set the groundwork, 55 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:46,000 the context for this entire apologetic method 56 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:48,000 and the rest of the following lessons. 57 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:50,000 So, I want you to pay very close attention 58 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:53,000 to how Van Til defines apologetics. 59 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:54,000 And here's what he says. 60 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:55,000 He says, 61 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:59,000 Apologetics is the vindication of the Christian worldview 62 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:01,000 over against the non-Christian worldview. 63 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:03,000 Or he says in another place, 64 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:05,000 Apologetics is the vindication 65 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:07,000 of the Christian philosophy of life 66 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:10,000 over against the non-Christian philosophy of life. 67 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:13,000 Now, I want you to pay very close attention 68 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:14,000 to that definition. 69 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:16,000 That is a beautiful definition 70 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:18,000 that really captures the essence 71 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:19,000 of the situation we have 72 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:21,000 when you have a believer 73 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:24,000 in the context of engaging an unbeliever. 74 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:29,000 Notice Van Til's emphasis on worldviews. 75 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:30,000 When doing apologetics, 76 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:32,000 we are defending a Christian worldview. 77 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:35,000 We're defending a Christian philosophy of life. 78 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:37,000 And what we're not defending 79 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:40,000 are piecemeal individual facts. 80 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:44,000 Facts are understood within a particular context. 81 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:46,000 And so, our worldview, 82 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:48,000 our system of belief, 83 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:49,000 creates the context 84 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:51,000 for understanding individual things 85 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:53,000 within our worldview perspective. 86 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:57,000 So, what I believe about item A 87 00:03:57,000 --> 00:04:00,000 is understood in light of the context 88 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:01,000 of my other beliefs. 89 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:03,000 And that's our worldview. 90 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:05,000 When I was in a debate with an atheist 91 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:06,000 there on YouTube, 92 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:09,000 we were talking about the resurrection of Jesus. 93 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:10,000 And he says, 94 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:12,000 Well, listen, I can grant you the resurrection of Jesus. 95 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:13,000 It doesn't mean that there is 96 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:15,000 an all-powerful God that exists. 97 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:17,000 Now, notice what he did there. 98 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:20,000 He removed the event 99 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:22,000 of the resurrection of Jesus 100 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:23,000 from the broader context 101 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:25,000 of a worldview that posits 102 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:26,000 an omnipotent God 103 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:28,000 who raised Jesus from the dead. 104 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:30,000 And so, I was sure to point that out 105 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:31,000 in our discussion, 106 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:32,000 showing that my belief 107 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:33,000 about the resurrection 108 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:34,000 is connected 109 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:36,000 to my broader worldview commitment 110 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:38,000 to the omnipotent God 111 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:40,000 who's revealed himself in Scripture. 112 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:41,000 And so, understanding apologetics 113 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:43,000 within this worldview context 114 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:45,000 is going to be vitally important. 115 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:47,000 Presuppositional apologetics 116 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:50,000 is a worldview apologetics. 117 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:51,000 And so, I just want to keep that 118 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:53,000 and I want you guys to keep that in mind. 119 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:54,000 When we're doing apologetics 120 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:56,000 or when we're engaging with the unbeliever, 121 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:58,000 I want you to see the unbeliever 122 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:00,000 as a walking worldview. 123 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:02,000 Whether he acknowledges it or not, 124 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:04,000 he has a system of his own. 125 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:06,000 As Christians, we have a system of our own 126 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:08,000 which is rooted and grounded in God 127 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:10,000 and his revelation found in Scripture. 128 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:11,000 Okay? 129 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:13,000 Now, what is presuppositional apologetics? 130 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:15,000 So, we know what apologetics is. 131 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:16,000 The defense of the faith, 132 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:18,000 more simply put. 133 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:20,000 The vindication of the Christian worldview 134 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:22,000 over against the non-Christian worldview. 135 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:24,000 A little more nuanced definition there. 136 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:27,000 But what about presuppositional apologetics? 137 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:28,000 Presuppositional apologetics 138 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:30,000 is an apologetic method. 139 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:31,000 So, growing up, 140 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:33,000 I woke up every Saturday morning 141 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:34,000 in my home 142 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:35,000 to the sound of 143 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:37,000 terribly dubbed martial art movies. 144 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:38,000 My dad used to love 145 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:40,000 those old Asian kung-fu flicks 146 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:41,000 where, you know, 147 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:42,000 the people's mouths would be moving 148 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:44,000 and the words wouldn't really match up very well. 149 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:46,000 And so, that was my morning. 150 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:47,000 And when I would wake up 151 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:49,000 and watch these movies with my dad, 152 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:51,000 the storylines were always the same. 153 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:52,000 There was some guy 154 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:53,000 trying to protect the honor 155 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:55,000 of his specific, you know, 156 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:57,000 dojo or, you know, 157 00:05:57,000 --> 00:05:58,000 the place where they kind of promoted 158 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:00,000 a particular style of martial arts. 159 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:02,000 Well, it's no different in apologetics. 160 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:04,000 You have different styles of apologetics. 161 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:06,000 You have the evidential method. 162 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:08,000 You have the classical method. 163 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:10,000 And there are some other variations within that. 164 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:11,000 And then, of course, 165 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:13,000 you have the presuppositional method. 166 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:14,000 So, before I define 167 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:16,000 what presuppositional apologetics is, 168 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:18,000 I really want to draw into focus 169 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:20,000 what differentiates 170 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:21,000 the traditional methods 171 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:22,000 of doing apologetics 172 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:23,000 and the method 173 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:25,000 that I'm going to be discussing 174 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:27,000 throughout the course of this series. 175 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:28,000 Let's take, for example, 176 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:31,000 evidential or classical apologetics. 177 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:32,000 Evidentialism, 178 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:34,000 or evidential apologetics, 179 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:35,000 focuses on, 180 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:36,000 well, you guessed it, 181 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:38,000 it focuses on the evidence, right? 182 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:40,000 And it typically explores issues 183 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:42,000 of the possibility of miracles 184 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:43,000 and things like this. 185 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:45,000 Classical apologetics 186 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:48,000 kind of takes a one-two punch approach. 187 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:49,000 The first punch 188 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:51,000 is demonstrate the existence 189 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:53,000 of a theistic god. 190 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:54,000 And this is typically done 191 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:55,000 through various traditional arguments, 192 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:58,000 such as the Kalam cosmological argument, 193 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:00,000 the teleological argument, 194 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:01,000 which is the argument from design, 195 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:02,000 the moral argument, 196 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:04,000 things like this. 197 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:05,000 And when the existence 198 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:07,000 of a god is established, 199 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:08,000 then the second punch 200 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:09,000 is to focus 201 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:11,000 on what kind of god 202 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:13,000 is being demonstrated here. 203 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:14,000 It's the god who has raised Jesus 204 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:15,000 from the dead. 205 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:16,000 And so the first punch 206 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:17,000 is demonstrating the existence 207 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:18,000 of a deity. 208 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:19,000 And the second punch 209 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:20,000 is to demonstrate 210 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:22,000 that this deity 211 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:23,000 has revealed himself 212 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:24,000 in the person of Jesus Christ 213 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:25,000 and has demonstrated 214 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:26,000 the truth of Christ 215 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:28,000 by raising him from the dead. 216 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:29,000 Okay? 217 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:30,000 Now, the unique thing 218 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:31,000 about the classical 219 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:32,000 and evidential approach 220 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:33,000 to apologetics 221 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:34,000 is that they are 222 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:35,000 what I'd like to call 223 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:37,000 a bottom-up approach 224 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:38,000 to apologetics. 225 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:39,000 Okay? 226 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:40,000 And what I mean 227 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:41,000 by bottom-up approach 228 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:42,000 is that both the evidential 229 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:44,000 and classical methods 230 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:45,000 start at the bottom 231 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:46,000 and work their way 232 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:48,000 up to the conclusion, 233 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:50,000 therefore, God exists. 234 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:52,000 But the presuppositional apologetics 235 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:53,000 takes a completely 236 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:54,000 opposite perspective. 237 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:55,000 It's actually 238 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:56,000 what I like to call 239 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:58,000 a top-down approach. 240 00:07:58,000 --> 00:07:59,000 We are not working our way 241 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:00,000 up to the conclusion 242 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:01,000 that God exists, 243 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:02,000 but rather we're starting 244 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:04,000 with, as a presupposition, 245 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:06,000 the existence of God 246 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:07,000 and his revelation 247 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:08,000 in Scripture, 248 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:10,000 and we argue from there. 249 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:11,000 We argue that if you reject 250 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:13,000 God and his revelation, 251 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:14,000 that you lose the foundation 252 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:15,000 for making sense 253 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:16,000 out of anything, 254 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:17,000 whether that be science, 255 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:18,000 anything that relates 256 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:19,000 to philosophy, 257 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:20,000 mathematics, 258 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:22,000 history, anything. 259 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:23,000 You name it. 260 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:24,000 The Christian God 261 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:25,000 and his revelation 262 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:26,000 provide the necessary, 263 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:27,000 what we call, 264 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:29,000 preconditions for knowledge 265 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:31,000 and intelligible experience. 266 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:33,000 So, presuppositional apologetics 267 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:35,000 is a top-down approach. 268 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:36,000 And I think the great thing 269 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:38,000 about having a top-down approach 270 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:39,000 in this respect 271 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:40,000 is that it gives 272 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:41,000 the proper place 273 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:43,000 of the authority of God. 274 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:44,000 We do not work our way 275 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:46,000 up to a God, 276 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:47,000 subjecting this God 277 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:49,000 to the standards 278 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:50,000 of human understanding. 279 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:51,000 Rather, we start 280 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:52,000 from the authority of God 281 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:54,000 and allow him and his word 282 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:55,000 to be the context 283 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:56,000 whereby we judge 284 00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:57,000 anything else. 285 00:08:57,000 --> 00:08:58,000 Okay? 286 00:08:58,000 --> 00:08:59,000 So, that is the difference 287 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:00,000 between a presuppositional approach 288 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:02,000 and the more classical 289 00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:03,000 and evidential approaches. 290 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:04,000 So, let's kind of give 291 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:05,000 a more focused definition. 292 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:08,000 What is presuppositional apologetics? 293 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:09,000 It is a school 294 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:10,000 of Christian apologetics 295 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:12,000 that believes the Christian faith 296 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:13,000 is the only basis 297 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:15,000 for rational thought. 298 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:16,000 This is believed to be true 299 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:19,000 on a biblical basis itself. 300 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:20,000 For example, 301 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:22,000 in Psalm chapter 36, verse 9, 302 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:23,000 we read, 303 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:26,000 In his light we see light. 304 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:27,000 Now, that's kind of 305 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:28,000 a very simple biblical statement, 306 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:29,000 but I want you to consider 307 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:31,000 the implications of that passage. 308 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:33,000 In his light we see light. 309 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:35,000 God is the light 310 00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:36,000 by which we see 311 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:38,000 and understand everything. 312 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:39,000 Okay? 313 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:40,000 The presuppositional approach 314 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:42,000 takes passages like this 315 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:43,000 very seriously 316 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:44,000 and allows them 317 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:45,000 to be the context 318 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:46,000 as to how we are to understand 319 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:48,000 any and every created fact 320 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:49,000 in existence. 321 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:51,000 So, in his light we see light. 322 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:53,000 In Proverbs 1, 7, we read, 323 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:54,000 The beginning of knowledge 324 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:56,000 is the fear of the Lord. 325 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:57,000 That is the basis 326 00:09:57,000 --> 00:09:58,000 of our epistemology. 327 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:00,000 Now, that's a $20 word 328 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:01,000 that I'm going to define 329 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:03,000 in our second part to this series, 330 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:04,000 but I want you to keep 331 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:05,000 that word in mind. 332 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:06,000 It's going to be very important 333 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:07,000 later on. 334 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:08,000 So, the beginning of knowledge 335 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:09,000 is the fear of the Lord. 336 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:10,000 Colossians 2, 3, 337 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:11,000 In Christ are hidden 338 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:12,000 all the treasures 339 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:14,000 of wisdom and knowledge. 340 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:15,000 And one of my favorites here, 341 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:17,000 Romans chapter 11, verse 36, 342 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:19,000 For from him and through him 343 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:21,000 and to him are all things. 344 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:22,000 Okay? 345 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:23,000 The reality is that 346 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:25,000 God is the creator 347 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:26,000 of all things. 348 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:27,000 He is sovereign. 349 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:29,000 He is the foundation for knowledge. 350 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:31,000 Genesis chapter 1, 1, 351 00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:32,000 I mean, we have the very 352 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:33,000 foundational assumption 353 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:34,000 within the Christian worldview 354 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:35,000 that provides the context 355 00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:36,000 for what we call 356 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:39,000 the creator-creature distinction. 357 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:40,000 In the beginning, 358 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:42,000 God created. 359 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:43,000 In the opening words 360 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:44,000 of the Bible, 361 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:45,000 you have a distinction 362 00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:47,000 between the creator 363 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:49,000 and that which is created. 364 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:50,000 And understanding 365 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:51,000 that basic foundation 366 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:53,000 is going to be really important 367 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:54,000 to everything else we do 368 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:55,000 when we're engaging 369 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:56,000 in apologetics. 370 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:57,000 Now, you might be wondering, 371 00:10:57,000 --> 00:10:58,000 well, why is he talking 372 00:10:58,000 --> 00:10:59,000 about all these 373 00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:00,000 biblical passages 374 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:01,000 and kind of these 375 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:02,000 theological commitments? 376 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:03,000 You have to understand something. 377 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:05,000 That a biblical apologetic 378 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:06,000 must flow, 379 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:07,000 it must grow, 380 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:09,000 out of a consistent application 381 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:10,000 of theological 382 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:12,000 and biblical truth. 383 00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:13,000 The Bible, the scriptures, 384 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:15,000 theology is the soil 385 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:16,000 out of which 386 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:17,000 our apologetic grows. 387 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:20,000 And so, apologetics is theological. 388 00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:22,000 And so, that's kind of why 389 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:23,000 I'm trying to incorporate 390 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:24,000 these simple biblical truths 391 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:25,000 and relating them 392 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:28,000 to having a biblical worldview 393 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:29,000 and then talking 394 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:30,000 a little bit later 395 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:31,000 as to why that's important 396 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:33,000 in terms of doing apologetics. 397 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:36,000 Now, what I want to explore next is, 398 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:37,000 and this is another 399 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:38,000 important element of apologetics, 400 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:39,000 number one, 401 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:41,000 understanding that we're engaging 402 00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:42,000 in worldview conflicts. 403 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:43,000 The Christian worldview 404 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:45,000 or the Christian philosophy of life 405 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:47,000 and the unbelieving worldview, 406 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:49,000 the unbelieving philosophy of life. 407 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:50,000 An important element 408 00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:51,000 of understanding 409 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:52,000 the presuppositional approach 410 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:54,000 and creating kind of a foundation 411 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:55,000 from which to engage 412 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:56,000 in apologetics itself 413 00:11:56,000 --> 00:11:57,000 is to understand 414 00:11:57,000 --> 00:11:59,000 the nature of the unbeliever. 415 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:01,000 Now, this is very important. 416 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:02,000 A lot of people will engage 417 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:03,000 in apologetics 418 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:04,000 really not thinking about 419 00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:05,000 what the Bible says 420 00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:07,000 about the unbeliever himself 421 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:08,000 or herself. 422 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:09,000 Okay? 423 00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:10,000 We're kind of caught 424 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:11,000 in a corner here. 425 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:12,000 Do we believe 426 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:14,000 what the unbeliever says 427 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:15,000 about himself 428 00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:16,000 or do we believe 429 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:17,000 what God has said 430 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:18,000 about the unbeliever? 431 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:20,000 That is a simple issue 432 00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:21,000 that really boils down to 433 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:23,000 who are we going to commit 434 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:25,000 ourselves to? 435 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:26,000 What God has to say 436 00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:27,000 and what he has said 437 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:28,000 with respect to the unbeliever 438 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:30,000 and the apologetic situation 439 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:31,000 or what the world says 440 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:33,000 that situation is like. 441 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:34,000 Okay? 442 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:35,000 The Bible says 443 00:12:35,000 --> 00:12:36,000 in Ephesians chapter 4 444 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:37,000 verse 17 through 18 445 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:39,000 that the unbeliever's thinking 446 00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:40,000 is veined 447 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:41,000 and he is dark, 448 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:42,000 he's veined and darkened 449 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:43,000 in his understanding. 450 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:45,000 The unbeliever's thinking 451 00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:46,000 is characterized 452 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:47,000 by intellectual futility 453 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:48,000 and ignorance. 454 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:50,000 He holds to a philosophy 455 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:51,000 that is not after Christ 456 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:53,000 but after the elementary principles 457 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:54,000 of this world. 458 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:56,000 The unbeliever bases 459 00:12:56,000 --> 00:12:57,000 his philosophy 460 00:12:57,000 --> 00:12:58,000 in such a way 461 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:00,000 that he sets aside God's word 462 00:13:00,000 --> 00:13:01,000 and makes it void 463 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:02,000 according to Mark 7 464 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:03,000 8 through 13. 465 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:05,000 Unbelieving philosophies 466 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:06,000 do this by beginning 467 00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:08,000 with elements of learning 468 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:10,000 dictated by the world. 469 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:11,000 So the unbeliever 470 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:12,000 has a foundation 471 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:13,000 that is not rooted 472 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:14,000 on the firm rock 473 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:15,000 of God's word 474 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:16,000 whereas the believer 475 00:13:16,000 --> 00:13:18,000 is having their feet 476 00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:19,000 firmly planted 477 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:20,000 on the truth 478 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:21,000 of God's revelation. 479 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:22,000 And so we need 480 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:23,000 to keep this in mind 481 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:24,000 because often times 482 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:25,000 when we engage the unbeliever 483 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:27,000 we will often remove ourselves 484 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:28,000 from that firm foundation 485 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:30,000 so as to meet the unbeliever 486 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:31,000 where he is 487 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:32,000 and in doing so 488 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:34,000 we really are taking the rug 489 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:36,000 from under our feet. 490 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:37,000 And so we want to make sure 491 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:38,000 that we are sticking 492 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:39,000 to our foundation 493 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:40,000 and we're engaging 494 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:41,000 with the unbeliever 495 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:42,000 in a way that is consistent 496 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:43,000 with scripture 497 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:44,000 and in a way that honors 498 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:46,000 the authority of God's word. 499 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:47,000 And we want to understand 500 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:48,000 the unbeliever 501 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:49,000 in a way 502 00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:50,000 that has been revealed 503 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:51,000 to us in scripture 504 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:52,000 because that informs us 505 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:54,000 how we are to engage 506 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:55,000 the unbeliever. 507 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:56,000 Let me ask you a question. 508 00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:58,000 When we are giving reasons 509 00:13:58,000 --> 00:13:59,000 for the Christian faith 510 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:01,000 are we giving reasons 511 00:14:01,000 --> 00:14:02,000 to an otherwise 512 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:03,000 ignorant person 513 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:05,000 or are we showing 514 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:06,000 the reality 515 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:07,000 that the unbeliever 516 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:08,000 is wearing a mask 517 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:09,000 and that mask 518 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:10,000 must be removed 519 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:11,000 to show that 520 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:12,000 the unbeliever 521 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:13,000 actually has a knowledge 522 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:14,000 of the God 523 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:15,000 whom we are presenting. 524 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:16,000 How you answer that question 525 00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:18,000 is very important. 526 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:19,000 I do not believe 527 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:20,000 that the unbeliever 528 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:21,000 is ignorant. 529 00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:22,000 I do not believe 530 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:23,000 that the task of apologetics 531 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:24,000 is giving information 532 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:25,000 to an otherwise 533 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:26,000 ignorant person. 534 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:27,000 Rather apologetics 535 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:28,000 is exposing 536 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:29,000 what Romans chapter 1 537 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:30,000 speaks of 538 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:31,000 the suppression of truth. 539 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:32,000 And so because 540 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:33,000 the scriptures tell me that 541 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:34,000 it actually tells me 542 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:35,000 the nature 543 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:36,000 and the state 544 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:37,000 of the unbeliever 545 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:38,000 that's going to affect 546 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:39,000 the way I interact with him. 547 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:40,000 So keep that in mind. 548 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:41,000 Now what about 549 00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:42,000 the biblical foundations 550 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:43,000 for what we're doing? 551 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:44,000 The Christian worldview 552 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:46,000 comes from the scriptures. 553 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:47,000 A Christian worldview 554 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:49,000 is a biblical worldview. 555 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:50,000 And the command 556 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:51,000 to defend the Bible 557 00:14:51,000 --> 00:14:53,000 comes from the Bible itself. 558 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:54,000 And so 559 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:55,000 an important thing to understand 560 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:56,000 when we're talking about 561 00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:57,000 how we do apologetics 562 00:14:57,000 --> 00:14:58,000 we understand that 563 00:14:58,000 --> 00:14:59,000 number one 564 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:00,000 the Bible commands us 565 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:01,000 to do apologetics 566 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:02,000 and it also tells us 567 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:04,000 how we are to do it. 568 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:05,000 And so it's there 569 00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:06,000 where we get really the 570 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:08,000 we hit the rub here 571 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:10,000 as to the presuppositional method 572 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:11,000 really being derived 573 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:12,000 from scripture itself. 574 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:13,000 And that's why 575 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:14,000 we should be enthusiastic 576 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:16,000 about following this approach. 577 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:17,000 Now let's consider 578 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:19,000 Jude chapter 1 579 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:21,000 verses 3 through 4. 580 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:22,000 Rather, you know what? 581 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:24,000 Let's actually unpack 582 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:25,000 1 Peter 3 15. 583 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:27,000 It's a traditional passage 584 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:29,000 and it's often brought up 585 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:30,000 anytime anyone's speaking 586 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:31,000 about apologetics 587 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:32,000 and so the temptation 588 00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:33,000 is to pass it over 589 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:34,000 because yeah 590 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:35,000 we kind of know 591 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:36,000 what 1 Peter 3 15 says 592 00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:38,000 but I actually want to stay here 593 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:39,000 for a little while 594 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:40,000 because it's super important. 595 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:42,000 So let's read it real quick. 596 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:43,000 But sanctify Christ 597 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:44,000 as Lord in your hearts 598 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:45,000 always being ready 599 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:46,000 to make a defense 600 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:47,000 to everyone 601 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:48,000 who asks you 602 00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:49,000 to give an account 603 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:50,000 for the hope that is in you 604 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:52,000 yet with gentleness 605 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:53,000 and respect. 606 00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:54,000 Now there are a couple of things 607 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:55,000 that stick out to me 608 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:56,000 and should stick out to you as well 609 00:15:56,000 --> 00:15:57,000 when you're looking at 610 00:15:57,000 --> 00:15:59,000 1 Peter 3 15. 611 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:01,000 Number one, the beginning 612 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:02,000 which is often skipped over. 613 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:04,000 Oftentimes people run right 614 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:05,000 to the always be ready, right? 615 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:06,000 And they talk about 616 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:07,000 you need to be ready 617 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:08,000 no matter if it's the professor 618 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:09,000 or a family member 619 00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:10,000 at the dinner table. 620 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:11,000 You need to be ready 621 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:12,000 to give an answer 622 00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:13,000 and of course that's important 623 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:14,000 and I agree with that. 624 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:15,000 But you have to understand 625 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:16,000 that there is something 626 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:18,000 that comes before that, right? 627 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:20,000 And that is to sanctify Christ 628 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:21,000 as Lord. 629 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:23,000 We set apart Christ as Lord. 630 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:24,000 So what sticks out to me 631 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:25,000 in 1 Peter 3 15 632 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:28,000 is sanctify to set apart 633 00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:29,000 Christ as Lord. 634 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:32,000 He is the Lord of our hearts. 635 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:34,000 Okay, now this is very important 636 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:36,000 because the heart in Scripture 637 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:37,000 almost never refers 638 00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:39,000 to the organ in your chest. 639 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:40,000 Rather it refers 640 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:42,000 to the seat of the will, 641 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:44,000 the center of one's being. 642 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:45,000 It actually is related 643 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:46,000 to that intellectual faculty 644 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:48,000 that goes into decision making. 645 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:50,000 Okay, the reasoning process. 646 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:51,000 Christ is to sit 647 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:53,000 on the throne of our hearts 648 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:54,000 and everything we do, 649 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:56,000 everything we reason about 650 00:16:56,000 --> 00:16:57,000 is dictated by His Lordship. 651 00:16:57,000 --> 00:16:58,000 We are bringing 652 00:16:58,000 --> 00:16:59,000 every thought captive 653 00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:01,000 to the obedience of Christ. 654 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:02,000 And so of course 655 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:04,000 that is followed by 656 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:06,000 the command to always be ready 657 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:07,000 and that's really, 658 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:09,000 it can be very intimidating. 659 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:10,000 Always, you know, 660 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:11,000 what if I'm caught off guard? 661 00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:12,000 Well, as a believer, 662 00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:13,000 you're called 663 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:14,000 to not be caught off guard. 664 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:16,000 You are to be so ready 665 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:17,000 that you are ready 666 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:19,000 in season and out of season. 667 00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:20,000 That's intimidating, 668 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:22,000 but it is very important. 669 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:23,000 And then the last part 670 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:24,000 where a lot of people 671 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:25,000 kind of skip over. 672 00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:27,000 We are to check this out. 673 00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:28,000 Sanctify Christ as Lord 674 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:29,000 in your hearts, 675 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:30,000 always being ready 676 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:31,000 to make a defense 677 00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:32,000 to everyone who asks you 678 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:33,000 to give an account 679 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:34,000 for the hope that's in you 680 00:17:34,000 --> 00:17:35,000 yet with gentleness and respect. 681 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:37,000 Now I'm very active 682 00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:39,000 in the online apologetics community 683 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:40,000 and unfortunately 684 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:41,000 I've seen a lot 685 00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:42,000 of presuppositionalists 686 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:44,000 get a really bad rap. 687 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:45,000 Not so much for the arguments 688 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:47,000 and the debate points 689 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:48,000 that they get 690 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:49,000 when they're interacting 691 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:50,000 with the unbeliever, 692 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:51,000 but it's this issue 693 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:52,000 of gentleness and respect. 694 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:53,000 We want to be very careful 695 00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:55,000 that we do not act like jerks 696 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:57,000 when giving the truth, right? 697 00:17:57,000 --> 00:17:59,000 If I speak the truth, 698 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:00,000 but I'm being a jerk 699 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:01,000 in the process, 700 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:02,000 it's really going to fall 701 00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:03,000 on deaf ears. 702 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:04,000 And so we want to make sure 703 00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:05,000 that we're being gentle 704 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:06,000 and respectful 705 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:07,000 when we're interacting 706 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:08,000 with unbelievers. 707 00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:09,000 And by the way, 708 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:10,000 when I speak 709 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:11,000 of a biblical method 710 00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:12,000 of apologetics, 711 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:14,000 that includes 712 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:15,000 not just the content 713 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:17,000 of what I'm saying, 714 00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:18,000 but the way in which 715 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:20,000 I communicate that content. 716 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:22,000 So the content must be biblical, 717 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:23,000 but the medium 718 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:24,000 through which 719 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:25,000 I express that content 720 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:27,000 has to be biblical as well. 721 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:28,000 So if you give 722 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:30,000 a presuppositional argument 723 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:32,000 or a presuppositional apologetic, 724 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:34,000 but you're not doing it 725 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:35,000 with gentleness and respect, 726 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:36,000 you are not following 727 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:38,000 a biblical apologetic. 728 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:39,000 So we want to do this 729 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:41,000 in a way that is consistent. 730 00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:42,000 Now, I want to take a look 731 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:46,000 at Jude chapter 1, verse 3. 732 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:48,000 And I love this passage here 733 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:49,000 because it really highlights 734 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:50,000 the importance 735 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:51,000 of doing apologetics. 736 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:52,000 And Jude writes, 737 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:53,000 Beloved, while I was making 738 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:54,000 every effort to write to you 739 00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:56,000 about our common salvation, 740 00:18:56,000 --> 00:18:57,000 I felt the necessity 741 00:18:57,000 --> 00:18:58,000 to write to you appealing 742 00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:00,000 that you contend earnestly 743 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:01,000 for the faith, 744 00:19:01,000 --> 00:19:02,000 which was once for all 745 00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:03,000 handed down to the saints. 746 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:04,000 Now, there are a couple 747 00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:05,000 of things here 748 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:07,000 that I want you to zero in on, okay? 749 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:09,000 Notice the language of necessity. 750 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:11,000 Jude points out the necessity 751 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:12,000 of addressing 752 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:13,000 the apologetical issues 753 00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:14,000 that are found 754 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:15,000 within the context 755 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:16,000 of this letter. 756 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:17,000 He commands his audience 757 00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:20,000 to contend earnestly 758 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:21,000 for the faith. 759 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:22,000 Notice that it's not something 760 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:23,000 that's kind of just like, 761 00:19:23,000 --> 00:19:24,000 Hey, I just want to let you know 762 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:25,000 there's some issues 763 00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:26,000 you might want to address. 764 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:28,000 No, he says this is necessary. 765 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:29,000 We must contend earnestly. 766 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:31,000 Contend earnestly for what? 767 00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:33,000 Contend earnestly for the faith 768 00:19:33,000 --> 00:19:35,000 once for all delivered. 769 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:36,000 What is that? 770 00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:37,000 What is the faith 771 00:19:37,000 --> 00:19:38,000 once for all delivered, 772 00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:40,000 if not the content 773 00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:42,000 of apostolic teaching? 774 00:19:42,000 --> 00:19:44,000 This is very important. 775 00:19:44,000 --> 00:19:46,000 It is necessary 776 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:47,000 that we engage in apologetics. 777 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:49,000 We are to contend earnestly 778 00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:50,000 for the faith, 779 00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:52,000 and what we are contending for 780 00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:54,000 is the body of Christian truth. 781 00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:56,000 If you want to be a good apologist, 782 00:19:56,000 --> 00:19:57,000 generally speaking, 783 00:19:57,000 --> 00:19:58,000 and if you want to be 784 00:19:58,000 --> 00:19:59,000 a good presuppositional apologist, 785 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:01,000 more specifically, 786 00:20:01,000 --> 00:20:03,000 you must be acquainted 787 00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:04,000 with the body of Christian truth. 788 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:05,000 You must be acquainted 789 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:08,000 with what has been handed down to us, 790 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:10,000 and this is going to highlight 791 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:11,000 the importance 792 00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:13,000 of knowing your theology. 793 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:15,000 Now, before I kind of wrap things up 794 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:16,000 in just a moment, 795 00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:17,000 I want to focus a little bit 796 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:18,000 on the importance 797 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:19,000 of knowing your theology. 798 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:22,000 Now, when you study apologetics, 799 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:23,000 the most intimidating thing 800 00:20:23,000 --> 00:20:24,000 about apologetics, 801 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:25,000 apart from the fear 802 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:26,000 of having to interact with someone 803 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:28,000 that you disagree with, 804 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:29,000 is that most people 805 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:30,000 get the impression 806 00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:33,000 that they have to know so much 807 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:34,000 in order to interact 808 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:35,000 with the atheist 809 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:36,000 or the Muslim 810 00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:37,000 or the Mormon 811 00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:38,000 or the Jehovah's Witness, 812 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:39,000 and it's true. 813 00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:40,000 You want to be familiar 814 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:41,000 with other perspectives 815 00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:42,000 and you want to be able 816 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:43,000 to navigate those different views, 817 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:45,000 but in my experience, 818 00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:47,000 99% of the attacks 819 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:48,000 upon the Christian faith 820 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:49,000 are actually based 821 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:51,000 on misunderstandings 822 00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:52,000 of the Christian faith. 823 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:53,000 Just a real quick story. 824 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:54,000 When I was picking something up 825 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:56,000 at the supermarket for my wife, 826 00:20:56,000 --> 00:20:58,000 I was walking out of the supermarket 827 00:20:58,000 --> 00:20:59,000 and I was carrying all these bags. 828 00:20:59,000 --> 00:21:00,000 I looked like one of those 829 00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:01,000 homeless people 830 00:21:01,000 --> 00:21:02,000 who, they're riding their bike 831 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:03,000 and they have like 832 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:04,000 all the garbage bags. 833 00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:05,000 You couldn't even see me. 834 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:06,000 I had so many bags. 835 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:07,000 And as I'm walking to my car, 836 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:09,000 a gentleman asked me, 837 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:10,000 hey, you know, 838 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:11,000 can I have a few minutes 839 00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:12,000 of your time? 840 00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:13,000 And I'm like, oh boy, 841 00:21:13,000 --> 00:21:14,000 this guy, I can't see him. 842 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:15,000 My hands are literally full. 843 00:21:15,000 --> 00:21:16,000 And I was like, 844 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:17,000 you know what, fine. 845 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:18,000 Can I just drop my bags 846 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:19,000 off at the car? 847 00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:20,000 And he's like, yeah, yeah. 848 00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:21,000 So I drop the bags 849 00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:22,000 off at the car 850 00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:23,000 and then I look at the gentleman 851 00:21:23,000 --> 00:21:24,000 and I say, hey, 852 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:25,000 what's going on? 853 00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:26,000 He goes, well, 854 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:27,000 I just wanted to share 855 00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:28,000 a little something with you 856 00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:29,000 and he says that 857 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:30,000 the scriptures teach us 858 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:31,000 that there is a Father God 859 00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:32,000 and I said, yeah, yeah, 860 00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:33,000 I believe that. 861 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:34,000 And he goes, 862 00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:35,000 but did you know 863 00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:36,000 that the Bible teaches 864 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:37,000 that there is also 865 00:21:37,000 --> 00:21:38,000 a Mother God? 866 00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:39,000 And I was like, 867 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:40,000 oh boy, here we go. 868 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:41,000 Here we go. 869 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:42,000 I was on my way to my car 870 00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:43,000 after going shopping 871 00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:44,000 and now I'm gonna have 872 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:45,000 this full-out conversation 873 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:46,000 with someone. 874 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:47,000 Now, I wasn't familiar 875 00:21:47,000 --> 00:21:49,000 with the particular cult 876 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:50,000 that he was a part of. 877 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:51,000 He was part of a cult. 878 00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:53,000 But what I found very quickly 879 00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:54,000 was that the majority 880 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:55,000 of my conversation 881 00:21:55,000 --> 00:21:56,000 was not so much 882 00:21:56,000 --> 00:21:57,000 navigating the ins and outs 883 00:21:57,000 --> 00:21:59,000 of his perspective, 884 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:00,000 but it was defending 885 00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:03,000 biblical doctrine. 886 00:22:03,000 --> 00:22:04,000 I had to talk about 887 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:05,000 the doctrine of God. 888 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:06,000 We differed over 889 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:07,000 views of salvation, 890 00:22:07,000 --> 00:22:08,000 so I had to know 891 00:22:08,000 --> 00:22:09,000 my what we call 892 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:10,000 soteriology, 893 00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:11,000 the doctrine of salvation, 894 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:12,000 the deity of Christ. 895 00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:13,000 We spoke about, 896 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:14,000 here's a $20 word, 897 00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:16,000 anthropomorphisms, 898 00:22:16,000 --> 00:22:17,000 when God is described 899 00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:19,000 with human characteristics. 900 00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:20,000 And so the majority 901 00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:21,000 of what was required of me 902 00:22:21,000 --> 00:22:24,000 was to defend my theology. 903 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:25,000 And so knowing theology, 904 00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:27,000 I think, is the first step 905 00:22:27,000 --> 00:22:28,000 in really being grounded 906 00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:29,000 and rooted 907 00:22:29,000 --> 00:22:30,000 in a biblical apologetic, 908 00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:31,000 and everything else 909 00:22:31,000 --> 00:22:33,000 will flow from there. 910 00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:34,000 But next time, 911 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:36,000 we'll unpack more 912 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:37,000 on this issue of worldviews. 913 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:38,000 Thank you so much.