Defending the Faith 1

Basic Apologetics Lesson 1
An Apologetic Lifestyle

Reading: 1 Pet 3:13-17
Jude 3-4

Introductory Thoughts—Apologetics—Defending the Faith—not apologizing for it—Acts 22:1 "Brethren and fathers, hear my defense before you now."

Classical Apologetics—Definition: To fight on the ground of the enemy, using the enemy’s weapons to convince the enemy’s people [who can never see nor hear the Truth without The Holy Spirit] that a book in which they do not believe which is about a Man in whom they do not believe is the answer for a problem which they don’t think they have.

Biblical Apologetics—Definition: defending the faith using the weapons of God’s warfare to accomplish the task that God has given each of us to do in the place and time in which He has placed us. The goal of this defense is not only to protect the faith of the faithful, but to convert those who oppose the faith.








1. The Battlefield

a. The enemies of Truth today

(1) The principalities and powers and dark forces of the world—Eph 6:10-18—we must never forget this all-important understanding
(2) New Age Religion
(3) Post-Modern Philosophy
(4) Christian Apathy and worldliness—there are some actual believers and many professing believers who live like the world, and who see no contradiction between their lifestyles and their faith.
(5) Most academics and members of “the secular establishment”

b. Issues

(1) Is there such a thing as Truth?—John 18:37-38, Rom 3:4—This “new” belief is not new—as Solomon said, there is nothing new under the sun—Pilate, by his acts and statements, showed himself to be “postmodern,” when in reality, he was of the ancient world of Babylon, Egypt, Greece, and the other empires before the one which employed him.
(2) Is the Bible Reliable? Is the Bible Truth, or is it “our truth.?”
(3) How can we know anything for sure?
(4) Did God create the world, or did everything come into being by some cosmic accident?
(5) The “traditional” values and the Social Issues that Christians are concerned about—are they valid concerns, or merely cultural and personal choices?
(6) Is the Gospel exclusive, or are there other ways to salvation? John 14:6, Acts 4:12, 1 Tim 2:5—This is a major issue, and it is certainly not a new one. In the Roman empire, the reason that Christianity never became a religio licta (a legally permitted religion) is because Christians said that Jesus was the ONLY way to salvation, that the Triune God was the ONLY God.

c. The Context of the text

(1) A suffering people—3:13-14

(2) The Example of Christ—3:16-17

2. The Importance of Personal Devotion—"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts…”

a. The most important factor in an apologetic lifestyle is your personal walk with the Lord.

b. Sanctify the Lord Always

(1) Definition of Sanctify—set apart as sacred to God; make holy, consecrate; regard as sacred; purify, cleanse[1]
(2) Greek—aorist imperative 2nd person plural—“All of you, right now, set God aside in your heart by faith.”
(3) Set God aside the primary place He whould have in your affections.
(4) In your hearts—practice the indwelling presence of God in your life—How?

c. The keys to devotional life and an apologetic lifestyle
(1) Personal Salvation—Jn 10:27
(2) The Lordship of Christ—Rom 10:9-10
(3) A Biblical Worldview—Gen 1:26-28
(4) Biblical and doctrinal maturity—Eph 4:12-16
(5) Prayer and Bible study
(6) Corporate and individual worship
(7) Actively serving God and cultivating your gifts

3. An ever-ready defender—“…and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope …”
a. The battle might be joined at any time; you never know when the next ambush might come.
b. Defense--apologia
c. Look at some of the great defenses of the Faith—and there are many more.
(1) Moses before Pharoah
(2) David against Goliath
(3) Elijah on Mount Carmel
(4) Jesus’ entire life
(5) The blind man from John 9
(6) Peter—Acts 2, 3:11-26, 4:1-22, 10:34-39, 11:1-18, 15:7-11
(7) Paul—Acts 9:19-22, 17:22-31, 22:1-22, 23:1-10, 24:10-21, 25:13-27, 26:1-32, 28:17-31
(8) Stephen—Acts 7
(9) Jude
(10) The great discourses of Jesus

d. What are some common characteristics of the great defenses?
(1) All defenses
(a) Christ Centered
(b) Personal
(c) Evangelistically oriented
(2) To those with some semblance of the true faith
(a) Christ centered
(b) Historical
(c) Biblical
(3) To Pagans
(a) Common starting point
(b) Biblical
(c) Christ centered
(d) Personal
(e) Universal illustrations
(i) Acts 14:11-18
(ii) Acts 17:221-31
e. Universal—to everyone—
(1) Context appropriate
(2) Audience appropriate
(3) Personal
(4) Biblical
f. A Reason—The Greek—logon, “…This attitude calls for an intelligent grasp of the hope and skill in presenting it…” (AT Robertson)
(1) The content of apologetics cannot be simple-minded, ignorant, or merely an emotional appeal.
(2) The presentation of apologetics must take into account a host of factors
(a) The social, legal, and authoritative position of the person who is object of the defense
(b) The cultural background and biblical knowledge of the recipient
(c) A constant, loving awareness of the need of the one who is receiving the message.
(d) The proper use of language, analogies, and illustrations
g. A reason of the hope
(1) This, again is all about Jesus
(2) Again, apologetics must be gospel-centered, Christ-centered, testimony-centered, and evangelism must always be the intent.

4. The Right Attitude—“…with meekness and fear;"

a. Meekness—strength under control
(1) This is not about winning an argument and losing a soul
(2) This is about a reasonable presentation of the Truth, trusting in God to use the defense for His glory.
b. Fear, Reverence
(1) Reverence for God and His Gospel, that it will not be trivialized
(2) Reverence for the deep need of the unbeliever, and conscious of that person’s pride and dignity.

5. The View From Jude’s Eyes—Jude 3, 4

a. This was a non-volunteer job for Jude—he had wanted to write a happy letter. Desired topic—salvation, but there was a constraint laid upon Jude—he was compelled involuntarily to write on this subject.
b. The Desired Outcome—Jude 1:3 "… contend for THE FAITH
(1) Earnestly contend

“The exhortation was to earnestly contend for THE FAITH. THE FAITH here is not faith as exercise by the individual, but Christianity itself in its historic doctrines and life-giving salvation. “Earnestly contend”…the simple verb was used of athletes contending in the athletic contests. The word speaks of a vigorous, intense, determined struggle to defeat the opposition.” (Wuest, page 234-235, vol. 2)

(2) For THE FAITH once delivered— Historic Christianity is called “THE FAITH.”

Acts 6:7 "… great company of the priests were obedient to THE FAITH."

Acts 14:22 "… and exhorting them to continue in THE FAITH…”

Acts 16:5, Rom 1:5, 1 Cor 16:13, 2 Cor 13:5, Eph 4:13, Col 1:23, Col 2:7, 1 Tim 1:2, 1 Tim 3:9, 1 Tim 4:1, 2 Tim 3:8, 2 Tim 4:7, Titus 1:13,













[1] Parson’s Quickverse 7