1 RELIGIOUS DEBATES: “Set for the Defense of the Gospel” Phil. 1:17 …I am set …I am set for the defense of the gospel. [By Ron Halbrook]

2 “Set for the Defense of the Gospel” Introduction Introduction: 1. Phil. 1:12-18 Soldier of Christ in prison: spirit undampened— no retreat, no surrender!

Phil. 1: But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; 13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; 14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. 15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: 16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: 17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel. 18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

4 “Set for the Defense of the Gospel” Introduction Introduction: 1. Phil. 1:12-18 Soldier of Christ in prison: spirit undampened— no retreat, no surrender! Paul’s imprisonment motivated others to preach   Some: selfish ambition—see Paul as competitor   Some: good will & love—see Paul as faithful defender of the truth

5 “Set for the Defense of the Gospel” Introduction Introduction: 1. Phil. 1:12-18 Soldier of Christ in prison: spirit undampened— no retreat, no surrender! Paul’s imprisonment motivated others to preach No resentment, rejoiced in spread of gospel— set for defense of truth, not self

6 “Set for the Defense of the Gospel” Introduction Introduction: 1. Phil. 1:12-18 Soldier of Christ in prison: spirit undampened— no retreat, no surrender! 2. Phil. 1:17 Gospel must be defended! Defense: evidence, answers, response to objections Truth must be defended against competing, contrary claims Battle for souls: God & Satan, sin & righteousness, truth & error

7 “Set for the Defense of the Gospel” Introduction Introduction: 1. Phil. 1:12-18 Soldier of Christ in prison: spirit undampened— no retreat, no surrender! 2. Phil. 1:17 Gospel must be defended! 3. Religious debates: honorable, necessary to spread gospel & save souls

8 “Set for the Defense of the Gospel” I. Set for the Defense A. Why Necessary to Defend Gospel? 1. Satan declared war on truth of God’s Word Gen. 2:16-17; 3:1-6 Depart from truth, led to sin, broke fellowship with God Jn. 8:43-45 Must believe God’s truth or be deceived by Satan’s lie Phil. 3:18 False teacher in fellowship with Satan, seeks to defeat plan of salvation

9 “Set for the Defense of the Gospel” I. Set for the Defense A. Why Necessary to Defend Gospel? 1. Satan declared war on truth of God’s Word 2. To defend God’s Word as true— can know the truth Jn. 8:31-32 Know the truth, free from bondage to sin & error 1 Jn. 5:9-12, 20 Know the truth about the Savior & salvation

10 “Set for the Defense of the Gospel” I. Set for the Defense A. Why Necessary to Defend Gospel? 1. Satan declared war on truth of God’s Word 2. To defend God’s Word as true— can know the truth 3. To stop the spread & effect of false doctrine Matt. 15:13-14 Error from Satan, destroys souls Tit. 1:9-11 Truth stops mouth of false teacher, saves souls from danger

11 “Set for the Defense of the Gospel” I. Set for the Defense A. Why Necessary to Defend Gospel? 1. Satan declared war on truth of God’s Word 2. To defend God’s Word as true— can know the truth 3. To stop the spread & effect of false doctrine 4. To save souls Rom. 1:16-17 God’s power to save Jude 3 To save souls, earnestly contend

12 “Set for the Defense of the Gospel” I. Set for the Defense B. Who Responsible to Defend the Gospel? 1. All Christians per ability & opportunity Phil. 1:7 Financial & moral support Acts 8:3-4 Tell, defend the gospel story 1 Pet. 3:15-16 Defense in word & deed

13 “Set for the Defense of the Gospel” I. Set for the Defense C. What Weapons? 1. Spiritual weapons of God’s Word Heb. 4:12 Sharper than any sword 2 Cor. 10:3-5 Mighty power to defeat error & bring souls to Christ 2. Not carnal weapons 2 Cor. 10:4 Not carnal power, divine power 2 Cor. 4:1-2 No deceit, only clear presentation of truth 2 Cor. 12:20 Not “debate” as strife, personal animosity, bitter wrangling

14 “Set for the Defense of the Gospel” II. Debates in Bible Days A. Matt. 22:23-33 Debate on Resurrection

Matt. 22: The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, 24 Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. 25 Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: 26 Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. 27 And last of all the woman died also. 28 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.

Matt. 22: Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. 31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. 33 And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.

17 “Set for the Defense of the Gospel” II. Debates in Bible Days A. Matt. 22:23-33 Debate on Resurrection B. Lk. 13:10-17 Debate on Human Tradition in Religion

Lk. 13: And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. 11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. 12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. 13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. 14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.

Lk. 13: The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? 16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day? 17 And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed [humiliated]: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.

20 “Set for the Defense of the Gospel” II. Debates in Bible Days A. Matt. 22:23-33 Debate on Resurrection B. Lk. 13:10-17 Debate on Human Tradition in Religion C. Acts 15:1-21 Debate on Whether We Are Under the Old or New Covenant

Acts 15:1-2 1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. 2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

Acts 15:4-6 4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. 5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. 6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

23 “Set for the Defense of the Gospel” II. Debates in Bible Days A. Matt. 22:23-33 Debate on Resurrection B. Lk. 13:10-17 Debate on Human Tradition in Religion C. Acts 15:1-21 Debate on Whether We Are Under the Old or New Covenant Vv Peter: Gentiles saved by the gospel in Acts 10 same as Jews in Acts 2 Vs. 12 Paul: God approved his preaching the gospel to Gentiles by miracles Vv James: Prophecies of salvation for Jew & Gentile fulfilled by the gospel

24 “Set for the Defense of the Gospel” III. Debates Today A. Debate on the Deity of Christ— Refute Error of Jehovah’s Witnesses Jn. 1:1; 20:28 The Word is God Rom. 10:9 Must confess for salvation Heb. 1:7-8 He is God, not an angel

25 “Set for the Defense of the Gospel” III. Debates Today B. Debate on Modern Miracle Claims— Refute Error of Pentecostals, Charismatics Mk. 16:20 Miracles confirmed the word 1 Cor. 13:8-10 Miracles end when truth fully revealed Jn. 6:9-11; 11:39, 43 Fake healers cannot fake all miracles

26 “Set for the Defense of the Gospel” III. Debates Today C. Debate on Instrumental Music in Worship— Refute Error of Denominations, Christian Church Gen. 6:14 Gopher wood excludes other kinds of wood Eph. 5:19 Sing excludes other kinds of music Rev. 5:8 Figurative language

27 “Set for the Defense of the Gospel” III. Debates Today D. Debate on Baptism in Plan of Salvation— Refute Error of Denominations Mk. 16:15-16 The great commission Jn. 3:16, 5 Believe Jesus on water in the new birth? Acts 2:38; Matt. 26:28 For remission of sins Eph. 2:8-9; Acts 19:5 Saved by grace thru faith when baptized, not before & without baptism Ja. 2:24 “Not by faith alone”

28 “Set for the Defense of the Gospel” Invitation Invitation: 1. Phil. 1:12-18 Soldier of Christ in prison: spirit undampened— no retreat, no surrender! 2. Phil. 1:17 Gospel must be defended! 3. Religious debates: honorable, necessary to spread gospel & save souls 4. Bondage to Satan: sin, deception, lies, false doctrines & religions 5. Obey the gospel, fight the good fight of faith, receive eternal life!