Apologetics: Defending your faith
Text: Luke 12:8-12
Confess Christ Before Men
8 “Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. 9 But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.
10 “And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.
11 “Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
Introduction
Defining Apologetics
Apologetics is the branch of Christianity that deals with the defense and establishment of the Christian faith. In a world where God’s Word is embattled from those both inside and outside of the church, we must always be prepared to give a defense for the hope that we have. We must learn how to defend what we believe.
Christian apologetics
1. answers contradictions and misconceptions about Christianity
2, gives an account of the basics of the Christian faith
3. It challenges non-Christian systems
4. seeks to persuade people of the truth of the Christian position
Christians’ Need for Hope
1. Hope is a strong assurance regarding things that are unclear and unknown (Romans 8:24-25; Hebrews 11:1, 7).
Romans 8:24-25
24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
2. Hope is a fundamental component of the life of the righteous (Proverbs 23:18).
Proverbs 23:18
18 For surely there is a [a]hereafter,
And your hope will not be cut off.
3. Without hope, life loses its meaning (Lamentations 3:18; Job 7:6) and in death there is no hope (Isaiah 38:18; Job 17:15).
Lamentations 3:18
18 And I said, “My strength and my hope
Have perished from the LORD.”
Isaiah 38:18
18 For Sheol cannot thank You,
Death cannot praise You;
Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your truth.
Benefits of Hoping
The righteous who trust or put their hope in God will be (Psalm 28:7)
1. They will be helped
2. they will not be confused,
3. they will not be put to shame
4. they will not be disappointed (Isaiah 49:23).
The righteous, who have this trustful hope in God, have a general confidence in God’s protection and help (Jeremiah 29:11) and are free from fear and anxiety (Psalm 46:2-3).
Jeremiah 29:11
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Foundation of Christian Hope
The certainty of this blessed future is guaranteed through
1. The indwelling of the Spirit (Romans 8:23-25),
2. Christ in us (Colossians 1:27)
3. The resurrection of Christ (Acts 2:26).
The Hope of a Christian
1. The hope of the resurrection of the dead (Acts 23:6), the promises given to Israel (Acts 26:6-7),
2. The hope of the redemption of the body and of the whole creation (Romans 8:23-25),
3. The Hope of eternal glory (Colossians 1:27),
4. The Hope eternal life and the inheritance of the saints (Titus 3:5-7),
5. The Hope of the return of Christ (Titus 2:11-14),
6. The Hope of transformation into the likeness of Christ (1 John 3:2-3),
7. The Hope of the saving power of God (1 Timothy 4:10) or simply Christ Himself (1 Timothy 1:1).
Conclusion:
Those who hope in Christ will see Christ exalted in life and in death (Philippians 1:20). Truthful promises from God give us hope (Hebrews 6:18-19), and we may boast in this hope (Hebrews 3:6) and exhibit great confidence in our faith (2 Corinthians 3:12). By contrast, those who do not place their trust in God are said to be without hope (Ephesians 2:12, 1 Thessalonians 4:13). So we should all be ready to declare our faith and defend what we believe.
