ONE FAITH Teaching Class By Rolan Monje City Churches Jubilee 2009, Cebu City see addtoyourlearning.com ; ack: some slides from Frank Turek and Norman Geisler

There is one faith Eph 4:4-5 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called—one Lord, one faith, one baptism; Jude 1:3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.

No other gospel Gal 1:6-10 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

The Biblical conviction One faith The faith to contend for One gospel; no other gospel Another gospel is no gospel at all

What is truth?

Christianity under siege Pre-modern Age Modern Age Post-modern Age

People see truth differently now Pre-modern Modern Post-Modern Absolute truth Rational truth Subjective truth Authority is God Authority is logic and science Authority is Self Conviction is virtue Intelligence is virtue Tolerance is virtue

Post-modern thinking Truth cannot be known; there is no absolute truth Truth is relative (what is true for you may not be true for me) We should not impose ‘truth’ on another person We need to understand how our understanding of truth affects our faith (note that in many languages faith and truth are related words)

Interpretation and conversion Today we tackle 3 issues we need to understand, to defend the ONE FAITH Truth and judgment Religion and choice Interpretation and conversion

#1 Truth and judgment Many now say truth is relative/subjective How should we answer? By pointing back or applying the claim to itself Let’s imagine a discussion… between a skeptic & a disciple

“Reason can’t be trusted.” Sam the Skeptic vs. Danny the Disciple “Reason can’t be trusted.” “Should we trust that?” 11

“You should doubt everything.” Sam the Skeptic vs. Danny the Disciple “You should doubt everything.” “Should I doubt that?” 12

“Isn’t that a judgment!” Sam the Skeptic vs. Danny the Disciple “You shouldn’t judge!” “Isn’t that a judgment!” 13

“Then how do you know that is true?” Sam the Skeptic vs. Danny the Disciple “No one has the truth!” “Then how do you know that is true?” 14

Sam the Skeptic vs. Danny the Disciple “That’s just your interpretation!” “Is that just your interpretation? 15

Sam the Skeptic vs. Danny the Disciple “It’s true for you but not for me!” “Is that true for everybody?” 16

#2 Religion and choice Many religions exist today People now say that what’s important is not the truth of a religion, but the toleration of religions That’s why, most people say now that “religion is a matter of choice” since “all roads lead to the same God.”

The Six Blind Hindus & The Elephant 1 - ear = big leaf 2- tusk = spear 3-side = wall 4-tail = rope 5-leg = tree trunk 6-snout = snake Same Reality Different Interpretations 18

Six Blind Men FAN WALL SPEAR ROPE TREE SNAKE

Six Blind Men JUDAISM HINDUISM ISLAM TAOISM CHRISTIANITY BUDDHISM

No Religion is THE Truth! JUDAISM HINDUISM ISLAM TAOISM CHRISTIANITY BUDDHISM

What is the perspective of the story teller? JUDAISM HINDUISM ISLAM TAOISM CHRISTIANITY BUDDHISM

The story teller has an objective vantage point! JUDAISM HINDUISM ISLAM TAOISM CHRISTIANITY BUDDHISM

Those who use this analogy think that everyone is blind except them! Truth is NOT relative to the individual; otherwise we wouldn’t know the blind men were mistaken. (It’s absolutely true that’s an elephant!) Those who use this analogy think that everyone is blind except them!

Consider these statements All religions are true. All religions save. But most people who say these have not really compared religions.

Do all religions teach the same things? NO! They differ on: Nature of God Nature of Man Sin Salvation Heaven Hell Creation 26

So, how can all religions be the same, or have the same effect, or have the same truth when they teach opposites? Example: Islam vs. Christianity 27

#3 Interpretation and conversion Many prominent scholars are taking a liberal view of Scripture (e.g. Bakhtin) Bakhtin: Bible stories are dialogic, inviting the reader to participate and interpret For Bakhtin, “[The Bible is…] the infinite and unfinalized dialogue in which no meaning dies”

Peter writes 2 Pet 3.16 There are some things in [Paul’s letters] that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures. You therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned, beware that you are not carried away with the error of the lawless and lose your own stability.

Are all “Christians” Christians? Not all people who claim to be Christians have the same doctrines; some of these doctrines are contradictory Not all people who claim to be Christians are really Christians Well, what does Jesus himself say?

Two gates, two roads Mt 7:13-14 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Narrow?

God is serious about the truth! Rom 1:18-20: “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness…

We exercise ‘faith’ in many areas of life Money and banking Transportation and communication Medicine If we consider truth and exactness in these areas, why not in religion? Why not in the most important things in life?

To summarize, we tackled 3 issues Truth and judgment Religion and choice Interpretation and conversion

Conclusions God wants people to know the truth and accept it in faith. The world may change, but the Bible remains steadfast. No matter what people say, there is absolute truth. We need to defend the faith that was introduced by Jesus.

Let us rejoice as we defend the ONE FAITH!