The Da Vinci Delusion

The Da Vinci Delusion

Matthew 16:13 / 2 Corinthians 11:1-4

Josh McDowell makes a great case when he describes the insidious nature of the Da Vinci Code. He states, "It’s not that the majority of our churched young people aren’t interested in spiritual things and don’t want a relationship with God. They do. But they hold distorted views about God, truth, the Bible, and what it actually means to be a true follower of Christ. Consider, for example, what our churched kids do and do not believe:

*63% don’t believe Jesus is the Son of the one true God;

*81% believe all truth is relative to the individual and his/her circumstances;

*51% don’t believe Jesus rose from the dead;

*65% don’t believe Satan is a real entity.

And when they are exposed to the distortions about Christ and the Bible from The Da Vinci Code movie, their already distorted views will go from bad to worse."

As we examine dan Brown’s book, let’s not fear the book or movie...let’s use it as an opportunity to reach others through marketplace evangelism...reaching the people where they are.

IT IS AN ASSAULT ON THE DEITY OF CHRIST

“My dear,” Teabing declared, “until that moment in history, Jesus was viewed by His followers as a mortal prophet…a great and powerful man, but a man nonetheless. A mortal.” Chapter 55

The greatest and most insidious nature of Brown’s book is the attack on the nature of Christ. Jesus’ resurrection is dismissed. His character is slandered. Had Brown written about Mohammed as he did Jesus his very life would be in jeopardy!

EXAMINE HIS WITNESS At the baptism of Jesus we have both the witness of the Father and the Spirit as he established his ministry. Two witnesses are more than enough to establish ones credibility.

EXAMINE HIS WORKS The miracles Jesus performed during His journey here gave proof that THIS was no mere man! He raised the dead, cleansed the unclean, and healed the infirmed. His works are exemplary!

EXAMINE HIS WAYS Jesus was man BUT He was without sin! He was perfect, holy, and righteous! No one found any fault in Him. At the trials Jesus was herded through, not even Pilate could find fault with Him.

“He who has seen Me has seen the Father” John 14:9

“I and My Father are one.” John 10:30

ILLUSTRATION – Council of Nicea 325 AD & "homoousios" When Constantine defeated Emperor Licinius in 323 AD he ended the persecutions against the Christian church. Shortly afterwards Christians faced a trouble from within: the Arian controversy began and threatened to divide the church. The problem began in Alexandria, it started as a debate between the bishop Alexander and the presbyter (pastor, or priest) Arius. Arius proposed that if the Father begat the Son, the latter must have had a beginning, that there was a time when he was not, and that his substance was from nothing like the rest of creation. The Council of Nicea, a gathering similar to the one described in Acts 15:4-22, condemned the beliefs of Arius and wrote the first version of the now famous creed proclaiming that the Son was "one in being with the Father" by use of the Greek word "homoousius."

APPLICATION Lost people want so desperately the claims of Jesus to be false! They desire to live anyway they may without any earthly or eternal consequences! "If one can’t argue the facts then attack their character."

IT IS AN ASSAULT ON THE VERACITY OF SCRIPTURE

“The Bible is a product of man, my dear. Not of God. The Bible did not fall magically from the clouds. Man created it as a historical record of tumultuous times, and it has evolved through countless translations, additions, and revisions. History has never had a definitive version of the book.” Chapter 55

THE BIBLES CREDIBILTY IS UNDER FIRE It is not uncommon for people to attack God by attacking His Word. Genesis 1-11 has been constantly attacked for years. Some simply do not want to believe God’s Word and if they attack the first book then it loses it’s credibility.

THE BIBLES BELIEVEABILITY IS UNDER FIRE Is this really God’s Word or is Dan Brown right? American’s love conspiracies! The Da Vinci Code is a subtle attack on not just the Catholic Church but all Christendom.

THE BIBLES RELIABILITY IS UNDER FIRE The wages of sin is STILL death. God’s Word does not change. Everyone will give an account of their lives at the Judgement!

“Has God indeed said…” Genesis 3:1

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God…” 2 Timothy 3:16

“For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter 1:21

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LLUSTRATION - Credibility (Real & True)