<p><span>We need Christians trained in apologetics now more than ever.</span><span><br></span></p><p></p><span><br>In a chaotic world where many people claim to have their own truth, Christians have been given the unshakable truth that comes from God alone. But simply knowing it isn’t enough. The ta
A Popular Survey of Apologetics for Today: Fast Facts Every Christian Should Know
✍ Scribed by Ron Rhodes
- Publisher
- Harvest House Publishers
- Year
- 2023
- Tongue
- English
- Leaves
- 405
- Category
- Library
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
We need Christians trained in apologetics now more than ever.
In a chaotic world where many people claim to have their own truth, Christians have been given the unshakable truth that comes from God alone. But simply knowing it isn’t enough. The task of apologetics belongs to all believers, to “make a defense to anyone who asks” (1 Peter 3:14). Although the call is clear, it can be difficult to know where to start.
This comprehensive survey delves into key teachings about our faith, providing pearls of wisdom along the way to help us remember the heart of the matter. Ron Rhodes shares a wealth of straightforward, biblical answers to the questions and issues of our day, addressing
- the nature of truth—absolute truth versus relative truth
- hermeneutics—the principles of interpreting the Bible rightly
- Christian ethics—including controversial topics such as abortion, suicide, and divorce
- alleged contradictions in the Bible
- challenging questions unbelievers ask about God and Christianity
Fortify your own understanding of God’s Word and God’s world—from intelligent design to the prophetic future—and let the truths contained in this book equip you for meaningful, effective, and gracious conversations with others.
✦ Table of Contents
Cover
Title Type
Copyright Page
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Contents
Introduction: Apologetics for Today
1. Foundational Issues in Apologetics
Truth Is Absolute
Let’s Be Reasonable
Philosophy Can Be Helpful
Belief in God Is Reasonable
Christians Can Be Deceived
Standing Against False Doctrine
Faulty Doctrine Can Be Injurious
All Religions Are Not the Same
Marginalizing God’s Word
Contending for the Faith
Avoid Non-Rock-a-Boatus
Flex Some Apologetic Muscle
Be Salt and Light
2. Dialoguing with Atheists, Agnostics, and Skeptics
The Problem with Skepticism
The Problem with Agnosticism
Denying God’s Existence Is Illogical
God’s Purpose for Miracles
Miracles and the Laws of Nature
Miracles and Hard Hearts
Intangible but Real
The Universe Is Not Uncaused
Atrocities Do Not Disprove God
Understanding the Command to Exterminate
Hypocrisy Does Not Disprove God
The Problem of Evil
God and Moral Evil
A Misuse of Free Will
Evil and Intelligent Design
Evil Does Not Disprove God’s Power
God Brings Good Out of Evil
God Providentially Limits Evil
3. Evolution, Creationism, and Intelligent Design
Genesis Is Foundational
Creation and Divine Revelation
Creation and the Trinity
Time and Creation
The Days of Genesis 1
The Gap Theory
The Problem with Evolution
Microevolution versus Macroevolution
Mutations Are Typically Destructive
The Problem with Natural Selection
Progressive Creationism
Theistic Evolution
Young-Earth Creationism
Cain’s Wife
Noah’s Flood
Intelligent Design Theory
The Universe Was Intelligently Created
God’s “Fingerprints” Are Discernible
God’s Design Is Scientifically Detectable
DNA Supports Intelligent Design
Design Flaws and Intelligent Design
The Laws of Thermodynamics
Life on Other Planets
4. The Kingdom of the Cults and the Occult
Understanding Cults
Doctrinal Characteristics of Cults
Sociological Insights on the Cults
Moral Characteristics of Cults
Allowing Cultists in Our Houses
Witnessing to Cultists
The Problem with Reincarnation
The Occult Is Off-limits
Astrology Is Off-limits
The Danger of Mysticism
5. Answering Ethical Challenges
Pursuing Ethical Living
Wealth Can Be a Distraction
Charity Is a High Virtue
Drinking Wine in Moderation
God Never Condones Lying
Oaths Are Allowable
Civil Disobedience
Capital Punishment
Suicide
Allowing for Divorce
Slavery
Activist Position on War
Pacifist Position on War
Selectivist Position on War
Understanding a Just War
Self-Defense
Laziness
Life Begins at Conception
Abortion
Fornication and Adultery
Polygamy
Homosexuality
Liberation from Sexual Sin
6. Revelation and the Authority of Scripture
Special Revelation
God Spoke through Prophets
The Apostles Were Unique
God’s Revelation Was Progressive
Beware of False Prophets
Alleged Fallible Prophets of God
Differences in “Holy Books"
The Bible—a Library of Inspired Books
The Holy Spirit Inspired Scripture
“Inspiration” Means God-Breathed
God Speaks Through Humans
All Scripture Is Inspired
The Writers Words Were Authoritative
Fulfilled Prophecy Proves Inspiration
There Are No Mistaken Prophecies
Scripture Is Our Final Authority
Science Does Not Disprove Scripture
7. The Reliability of the Biblical Manuscripts
The Papyri Discoveries
The Essenes and the Dead Sea Scrolls
The Dead Sea Scrolls and Bible Manuscripts
Variants in the Manuscripts
The Bible Not Corrupted
God Preserved the Manuscripts
Christian Extrabiblical Sources
Secular Extrabiblical Sources
Archaeology
Archaeology and the Old Testament
Archaeology and the New Testament
The Canon in New Testament Times
Five Tests for Canonicity
Canonical Books Briefly Doubted
The Apocrypha
8. Interpreting the Bible
Principles for Bible Interpretation
The Case for a Literal Interpretation
The Problem with an Esoteric Approach
Wisdom Sayings in Proverbs
Unconditional and Conditional Bible Promises
Promises to Old Testament Israel
General Old Testament Bible Promises
Gender-Inclusive Language
Alleged Gospel Contradictions
Selective Information in the Gospels
Formal Equivalence Bible Translation
Dynamic Equivalence Bible Translation
Christian Meditation
9. Knowing the One True God
General Revelation
God Is Personal
Knowing God Intimately—Part 1
Knowing God Intimately—Part 2
“Heavenly Father” Is Not Sexist
God’s Names Reveal His Nature
The Plural Name Elohim
God’s Awesome Attributes
God Is Near and Far
God Purposefully “Keeps His Distance”
The Problem with Pantheism
God Is Sovereign
God Is the Almighty Judge
God Is Incomparable
The False God of Islam
God Is a Trinity
Three-in-One Is Not Contradictory
The Trinity Is Not Pagan
Jesus Is Not the Father and Holy Spirit
Divine Sovereignty and Human Freedom
God Reigns Over Our Circumstances
We Are Never Alone in Our Troubles
The Holy Spirit Is God
The Holy Spirit Is a Person
The Holy Spirit Seals Believers
The Holy Spirit Is a “Guarantee”
Be Filled with the Holy Spirit
Walk in the Holy Spirit
Spiritual Gifts versus Natural Talents
Different Views on Spiritual Gifts
Being “Slain in the Spirit”
The Folly of “Holy Laughter"
10. The Identity of Jesus Christ
Caution about Messianic Claims
Jesus Has Names of Deity
Jesus Is Equal to God
Jesus Has Divine Authority
Jesus Is the Son of God
Jesus Is the Son of Man
Jesus Did What His Father Did
Jesus’ Miracles Prove Deity
Biblical Evidence for Jesus’ Deity
Messianic Prophecies
Witnessing to Jews with Prophecy
The Preincarnate Christ
Melchizedek—A “Type” of Christ
No Hometown Miracles
Jesus Did Not Derive from Paganism
Eyewitnesses of Jesus
Jesus Was Not a Legend
Gospel Writers Not Biased
No Messianic Conspiracy
Jesus Alone Is “the Christ”
Jesus Was Never Married
Not a Mere Moral Teacher
Jesus Never Learned from Gurus
No Verse Disproves Jesus’ Deity
Not the Archangel Michael
11. The Incarnation, Teachings, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Christ Became Fully Human
Jesus Was Virgin-Born
Christ “Made Himself Nothing”
Two Natures in the Incarnate Jesus
The Incarnation Lasts Forever
The Temptations of Jesus
Jesus Held Three Offices
Jesus Is Our Savior
Jesus Is “the Word”
Christ Is Our Advocate
Jesus Spoke for the Father
Jesus Taught Parables
Supreme Love for Jesus Alone
Don’t Be Hypocritical
Kept from Harm’s Way
Two Senses of Forgiveness
Conditions for Answered Prayer
Caution with Profane People
“Greater” Miracles than Jesus
The Timing of Jesus’ Return
Importance of the Resurrection
Evidence for the Resurrection
Jesus Was Raised Physically
No Resurrection Conspiracy
The Wrong Tomb Theory
The Swoon Theory
The Stolen Body Theory
The False Memory Theory
The Hallucination Theory
Our Mortal Bodies Are Weak
The Resurrection of Our Bodies
12. The Creation, Fall, and Salvation of Humanity
God Is the Creator
Humans as Social Beings
Races of Humanity
God and Gender
Humans Possess a Soul
Humans Are Not Divine
A Woman’s Value
The Saddest Event
Missing the Target
Fallen in Sin
Bad News and Good News
Mortal and Venial Sins
The Unforgiveable Sin
Eternal Plan of Salvation
Election and God’s Foreknowledge
Election and God’s Sovereignty
The Trinity and Salvation
Limited Atonement
Unlimited Atonement
Gospel of Salvation
Jesus Is the Only Way
Christians Not Narrow-Minded
Christians Not Arrogant
The Need for the Gospel
Christ’s Substitutionary Atonement
Did Jesus “Become Sin” for Us?
Salvation by God’s Grace
Change Your Mind About Jesus
The New Birth
Different Facets of Salvation
A Clean Slate
Instant Forgiveness
“In Christ”
Salvation Is Secure
Names in the Book of Life
Not Everyone Will Be Saved
The Law Cannot Save
No Sinless Perfection
Speaking in Tongues
Baptism
Physical Healing is Not Guaranteed
Spreading the Good News
13. Sanctification and the Church
A Christian Belongs to Christ
Pursuing Holiness
Sanctification: Three Aspects
Bearing Fruit
Take Up Your Cross
When Christians Sin
Temptations
David—an Example of Faith
Conditioning Our Faith Muscles
Communicating with God
Praying Effectively
Benefits of Prayer
God Delights to Answer Prayers
Short Prayers Are Fine
Beware of Contemplative Prayer
Wisdom in the Proverbs
Recovery and Scripture
The Church—Universal and Local
Israel and the Church
The Sabbath and the Lord’s Day
Musical Instruments in Church
Traditional and Contemporary Christian Music
Grace Giving and Tithing
The Ordination of Women
The Significance of Baptism
The Proper Mode of Baptism
The Problem with Infant Baptism
The Significance of the Lord’s Supper
14. The Spirit World of Angels, Satan, and Demons
The Vast Spiritual World
Angels Are Not Departed Humans
Angels Are Sons of God
Angels Are Invisible Servants
Angels Are Personal Beings
Angels Are Ministering Spirits
Angels Have Various Roles
God Does Not Need Angels
God’s Angels Are Obedient
Guardian Angels
Angels and Answered Prayer
Ezekiel Saw Angels
Not All Angels Are Good
Elect Angels and Evil Angels
Angels Can Take on Human Appearance
Lucifer’s Fall
Satan’s Titles
Satan’s Power Is Limited
Bible Warnings About Demons
Christians and Demon Possession
Sickness and Demonic Spirits
Satan’s Counterfeits
Our Defense Against Satan
Beware of the World
Beware of the Flesh
15. The Prophetic Future—Part 1
Israel’s Rebirth
End-Times Invasion of Israel
Christians Will Be Raptured
Christians Will Receive New Bodies
Christians Will Face Judgment
The Tribulation Period
Daniel’s “Seventieth Week”
The Antichrist’s Global Dominion
The Antichrist Not a Muslim
The Path to Armageddon
Jesus Is Coming Soon
The Glorious Appearing
Kingdom of God—Kingdom of Heaven
The Millennium
Three Heavens
Today’s Heaven and the Future Heaven
New Heaven and New Earth
Pictures of Heaven
Heaven Is a Physical Place
Heaven and Earth Renewed
Heaven’s Location
Time in Heaven
Heaven Is Eternal
Fellowship with God in Heaven
Babies Who Die Go to Heaven
16. The Prophetic Future—Part 2
Firsthand Reports of Heaven
A Heavenly Reunion
No More Marriage
Heaven’s Vast Population
Food in Heaven
Clothes in Heaven
Seeing Earth from Heaven
Things Not in Heaven
Animals and Pets in Heaven
Nothing Thwarts Heaven’s Joy
Biblical Descriptions of Death
Disembodied at Death
Christians Shouldn’t Fear Death
Hell Is Real
Endless Punishment for the Wicked
Hell and a Loving God?
The Great White Throne
Purgatory: A False Doctrine
No Date-Setting
The Problem with Preterism
Prophecies Not Manipulated
Purifying Effect of Prophecy
A Top-Down Perspective
Postscript: Contend Without Contentiousness
Appendix: Saying Yes to Jesus
Other Great Harvest House Books by Ron Rhodes
About the Publisher
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