8/31/2015 objectives Differentiate between objective and subjective truth Paraphrase 5 proofs for God's existence Diagnose who you believe Jesus is Recall basic Scriptural apologetics

Recalling basic scriptural apologetics

Apologetics definition Apologetics comes from apologia, the Greek word for defense. Hence, today is meant to help “defend the faith” using the Scriptures.

Romans 3:28 “For we hold that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law.” Verse that many Protestants point to when justifying their adherence to sola fide or “faith alone.” Notice that it does not say “faith alone” by that faith is part of how one is justified apart from “works of the law”. Still, what are “works of the law”?

Works of the law 1. The moral precepts are those precepts known to us as the Ten Commandments—the basic moral law of God for men. 2. The ceremonial precepts relate to such things as the Jewish teaching regarding circumcision on the eighth day and the kosher prohibition against eating pork. 3. The judicial precepts are the civil laws governing the nation of Israel as a political state.

“Saint Paul’s epistles to the Romans and to the Galatians are particularly concerned with baptized Christians who wrongly believed that the observance of the circumcision and the other ceremonial precepts were necessary for salvation. Some Roman and Galatian Christians had wrongly concluded that a Christian must believe in Jesus and obey the ceremonial precepts of Moses in order to be saved. Against this error, Saint Paul presents faith in Christ as opposed to the “works of the law.” In his historical context, Saint Paul rejected any attempt to bind Christians to the ceremonial law. In other words, Paul did not believe that Christians should receive circumcision or abstain from pork.” Taylor Marshall

Church teaching “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 The Catholic Church teaches, like other Christian denominations, that we are saved by grace, but justified-made righteous in the sight of God- by faith and works; not works of the law, but works of charity. “What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.” James 2: 14-17

2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” This is the verse that many Protestants point to when defending idea of sola scripture or Scripture alone. Notice it says nothing about “Scripture alone”, only how Scripture can edify those adhering to it.

Church teaching “So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter.” 2 Thessalonians 2:15 The Catholic Church points to Scripture and Tradition as being the “rule of faith” the complete teachings of Jesus Christ entrusted to the Catholic Church. “I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these instructions to you so that, if I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth.” 1 Timothy 3:14-15 Keep in mind the Bible was not compiled until close to years after Jesus ascended into heaven.

The Eucharist “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6: This chapter of Scripture, John 6, is the passage, along with the Last Supper, that Catholics point to regarding our teaching on the Eucharist being the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ. Keep in mind the original Greek of “to eat” in this instance is translated as “to gnaw.” Many Protestants point to us “eating Jesus’ flesh” as an act of cannibalism. Yet, Jesus would not command us to be cannibals in actuality or symbolically as many Christian denominations celebrate the symbol of the Lord’s supper, but do not believe that the Eucharist in the Catholic sense of the term is the true Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

Faith