Jude Lesson 3: Contending--Apologetics Rev. Christopher J. Respass Antioch Bible Institute Summer 2012

Contending: Apologetics Jude urges his readers to “contend for the faith” (v. 3). One specific way that we can contend or protect the faith is through the intentional practices of Apologetics. Derived from the greek word avpologi,a, Apologetics is a process of rendering a defense of oneself or one’s position. Thus, Christian Apologetics is the process of rendering a defense for the Christian worldview.

Contending: Apologetics 1 Peter 3:14-16 says, But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

Contending: Apologetics In defending the faith, we must never forget that our personal character and behavior are as important as the words we speak. We have been changed through our faith in Jesus and we have been filled by the Holy Spirit of God. So, when engaging in apologetics, we must do so with the heart of Christ, the Spirit of God and the gentleness and respect of one who has been forgiven of sin.

Contending: Apologetics Engaging or responding to others for Christ is often challenging because many do not “play by the same rules” as we do. Nevertheless, our charge is to “bless and not curse” (Rom. 12:14) with the hope that god will use us to convince others of the truth of scripture. To that end, heed the words of Solomon when he says:

Contending: Apologetics Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes. Proverbs 26:4-5 The challenge is to know when to speak!

Contending: Apologetics What form does it take? 1.Explanation and Proclamation (Acts 2:1-16 et seq.) a) Those who were not disciples wondered what was happening while others thought the disciples were drunk. b) Peter “lifted up his voice and addressed them” explaining what was happening.

Contending: Apologetics What form does it take? 2. Deliberate Argument (Acts 17:1-5). a) Paul deliberately entered the synagogue to offer his position on why Jesus is the Christ and Messiah. b) Some were persuaded and others were angered.

Contending: Apologetics What form does it take? 3. Confrontation (Acts 17:16-34) a) Paul’s spirit was stirred and he spoke and debated with those in the synagogues and with the Stoic and Epicurean philosophers. b) Paul’s address to the Aeropagus is a classic example of confrontational apologetics.

Contending: Apologetics What form does it take? 4. Humble Spiritual Demonstration (1 Cor. 2:1-5) a) Paul did not rely on the craftiness of a convoluted argument. Instead with profound simplicity he shared Jesus Christ and him crucified. b) With the demonstration of the spirit and power the persuasive defense of Jesus was made.

Contending: Apologetics What form does it take? 5. Personal Participation (1 Cor. 9:19-23) a) Paul personally adapted choosing to become “all things to all people” for the purpose of winning them to Jesus. b) This does not mean that we are licensed to engage in sin in order to reach a particular group, but that we take care to use our lives and our preparation as key components to the apologetic enterprise.

Contending: Apologetics What form does it take? 6. Correcting Error and Misbehavior (2 Cor. 10:1-6, Jude 3). a) Paul and his peers were accused of living a fleshly life. b) He indicated that they intentionally sought to destroy arguments and lofty opinions that are raised against the knowledge of God.

Contending: Apologetics What form does it take? 7. Personal Witness (1 John 1:1-4) a) John gives an account of what he has personally seen, touched and experienced. b) We too have the benefit of our changed lives as corroborating evidence of the existence and transformative power of Jesus Christ.

Contending: Apologetics What form does it take? 8. Presentation of Jesus Christ as God (John 20:30) a) Deliberate action taken to convince others that Jesus Christ is God is inherently apologetic. b) The communication of the reasons for “the hope we have within us” and the description of our journey to that position necessarily requires that we offer a defense for Christianity and renounce all false claims concerning Jesus.

Contending: Apologetics What Are Its Limits? 1.Rational Arguments are often not involved in coming to faith. a) they may be helpful in “tilling up fallow grow” to allow the seed of the gospel to be planted and germinate. 2. We can only offer reasonable evidence not certainty. --we cannot prove that God is real through apologetics (neither can he be disproven).

Contending: Apologetics What are its limits? 3. Evidence for the truth of Christian life is Cumulative. a) no one argument wins or “carries the day.” 4. Intellectual Agreement is not a Faith Commitment. a) Mental Assent is not enough. b) “….Even the demons believe- and shudder!” (Jas. 2:19).

Contending: Apologetics What are its limits? 5. All of our apologetic work is fruitless without the work of the Holy Spirit and prayer.

Contending: Apologetics What is your responsibility? 1. Study so that you can handle the Scriptures properly (2 Tim. 2:15). 2. Refuse to be silent—it’s your calling too! 3. Refuse to be arrogant, instead be a humble. 4.Be ready to make a defense to anyone who asks you “why Jesus?”

Contending: Apologetics Source Sire, James W. A Little Primer on Humble Apologetics. Downers Grove: IVP Books, 2006.