Week 11 -- Pluralism - Part 2
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The document discusses challenges that Christians may face in witnessing their faith in today's world, which includes relativism, pluralism, and other religions. It addresses objections such as the idea that sincerity is most important, not specific beliefs. The document argues that religions have mutually exclusive truth claims that cannot all be true at the same time. It also argues that salvation comes exclusively from faith in Jesus Christ as described in the New Testament, and that all people need to hear the gospel message.
Week 11 -- Pluralism - Part 2
- 1. A cHRISTIAN today’s world WITNESS in Tactics + sTRATEGIES Relativism The Bible Pluralism Islam Sexual Revolution Media Training and Equipping Believers to Live Out a Confident Faith
- 2. A cHRISTIAN today’s world WITNESS in Tactics + sTRATEGIES Relativism The Bible Pluralism Islam Sexual Revolution Media Training and Equipping Believers to Live Out a Confident Faith
- 3. Last Week
- 4. pLURALISM: There are many legitimate “paths to God” and trusting Jesus is merely one of those paths.
- 5. what will matter When our lives end, most at that moment?
- 6. which Religious club It will NOT be: you chose to belong to (or not belong to) during your life
- 7. (mormonism)
- 8. (JW)
- 9. (Heritage)
- 10. 1. Does God Exist? What will matter is: 2. hAVE WE KEPT His commandments?
- 11. His commandments God is real and we have broken Now What?
- 12. usGod He takes our punishment God himself takes the punishment for our crimes against Him We take our own punishment We get the appropriate punishment for our crimes against God. The Result: Mercy The Result: Justice
- 13. thE Offer
- 14. punishment “I will take your and offer you mercy instead of judgment!” - God
- 15. What are the terms?
- 16. Only One way
- 17. Jesus
- 18. Jesus… is the only source of salvation for the world is the Father’s choice provides forgiveness of sin will be man’s judge on that final day
- 19. Rejection of Jesus is rejection of God No other alternatives for salvation All nations are to be given the gospel Rejection of Jesus brings wrath and judgment
- 20. cHALLENGES
- 21. notice: Every one of the following objections is based on a misunderstanding the central problem Christianity exists to solve.
- 22. The Plan: 1) Introduce a challenge 2) Discuss with your neighbors how you would respond 3)Work on it together
- 23. iNCOMPLETE bELIEF “You don’t have the whole picture” cHALLENGE 1:
- 24. “You Christians think you have the truth, but you only have one part of the larger truth about God.”
- 26. The rajah, awakened by the commotion, calls out from the balcony. “The elephant is a big animal,” he says. “Each man touched only one part. You must put all the parts together to find out what an elephant is like.”
- 27. Enlightened by the rajah’s wisdom, the blind men reach agreement. “Each one of us knows only a part. To find out the whole truth we must put all the parts together.”
- 28. “You Christians think you have the truth, but you only have one part of the larger truth about God.” How would you respond? Take 5 minutes and discuss
- 29. it means that a view and its opposite cannot both be true at the same time, and the same way. Mutually Exclusive If something thing is
- 30. Law of non-contradiction This is also called the
- 31. uNDERSTANDING THE eLEPHANT God existsChristianity: Atheism: God does not exist God is personalChristianity: islam: God is not personal
- 32. uNDERSTANDING THE eLEPHANT Jesus is the messiahChristianity: Judaism: Jesus is not the messiah Evil is realChristianity: Hinduism: Evil is an illusion
- 33. uNDERSTANDING THE eLEPHANT Go to heaven or hellChristianity: Hinduism: We come back as something else One of three levels of heaven, possibly attain godhood Mormonism: Atheism: We go into the ground
- 35. Columbo Questions: How can we go to heaven or hell, be reincarnated, and stay dead in the ground all at the same time?
- 36. Columbo Questions: How can God exist and not exist at the same time?
- 37. FACT: Religions are mutually exclusive views of the world. They can never, ever, ever all be right at the same time.
- 38. sINCERITY MATTERS moST “God is looking for sincerity” cHALLENGE 2:
- 39. “What matters is people’s sincerity, not their specific beliefs or religion.”
- 40. How would you respond? “What matters is people’s sincerity, not their specific beliefs or religion.” Take 5 minutes and discuss
- 41. Columbo Questions: Is there anything besides sincerity that matters?
- 42. Columbo Questions: What are you basing this on?
- 43. Columbo Questions: What if someone’s sincere religious goal is to kill you?
- 44. Columbo Questions: What if someone doesn’t have much sincerity? Does that make their view false?
- 45. Columbo Questions: Does God stop existing when people don’t believe sincerely in Him?
- 46. FACT: Sincerity has nothing to do with whether your view is true or not. We need another standard.
- 47. Inclusivism “Belief in Jesus is not required” cHALLENGE 3:
- 48. “Christ is the grounds of faith, but he doesn’t have to be the object”
- 49. “People can benefit from Jesus’ sacrifice without directly believing in it” or, said another way…
- 50. Inclusivism: One does not have to believe in Jesus directly to receive the benefits of his life and sacrifice.
- 51. Old Testament Saints: did not have to believe in Jesus directly to receive the benefits of his life and sacrifice.
- 52. h2 - BROWNInclusivism Those who hear the gospel must believe it. There is no hope for those who hear and reject. “One does not have to believe in Jesus directly to receive the benefits of his life and sacrifice.” Modest Inclusivism: For those who never heard we leave that up to God to decide.
- 53. h2 - BROWNInclusivism Even if people reject the gospel they can still be saved. “One does not have to believe in Jesus directly to receive the benefits of his life and sacrifice.” sTRONG Inclusivism: If people reject Christ and pursue any other means of devotion sincerely, God will recognize their heart and respond with saving faith
- 54. I’ve always said we should help a Hindu become a better Hindu, a Muslim become a better Muslim, a Catholic become a better Catholic.” - Mother Theresa of Avila
- 55. Jews can be saved if they look forward in hope to the Messiah and try to ascertain whether God’s promise has been fulfilled. - Avery Cardinal Dulles, Roman Catholic priest
- 56. Adherents of other religions can be saved if, with the help of grace, they sincerely seek God and strive to do his will. - Avery Cardinal Dulles, Roman Catholic priest
- 57. Even atheists can be saved if they worship God under some other name and place their lives at the service of truth and justice. - Avery Cardinal Dulles, Roman Catholic priest
- 58. How would you respond? “People can benefit from Jesus’ sacrifice without directly believing in it” Take 5 minutes and discuss
- 59. Source Where does salvation come from? Ground Means object What holds it all together? How do you acquire it for yourself? Where is salvation found now?
- 60. Source Where does salvation come from? The unmerited mercy and goodness of God Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? - Romans 2:4
- 61. Redemption for all mankind secured by Christ on the cross. because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, - Romans 3:25,26 Ground What holds it all together?
- 62. Faith. (Active trust in God’s goodness and mercy.) But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” - Galatians 3:11 Means How do you acquire it for yourself?
- 63. object Where is salvation found now?
- 64. Adam received covering for his sin and trusted God’s promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (Gen 3:15). object What do we place our faith (trust) in? Abraham believed in God’s promise of descendants who would bring blessing to the nations of the Earth (Gen 12:3).
- 65. Old Testament saints counted on the atoning sacrifices that God prescribed to cover their sins (Leviticus). object What do we place our faith (trust) in? So, what about us?
- 66. Source Where does salvation come from? Ground Means object What holds it all together? How do you acquire it for yourself? Where is salvation found now?
- 67. Source The unmerited mercy and goodness of God Ground Means object The work of Christ on the cross Faith (active trust in God’s goodness and mercy). The person of Jesus Christ exclusively.
- 68. New Testament author is in agreement on this point. Every single
- 69. place our trust in Jesus Christ to benefit from his sacrifice. We must
- 70. Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
- 71. “And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life and this life is in his Son. 1john 5:11
- 72. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.” 1john 5:12
- 73. “for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” john 8:24
- 74. “He who believes has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides in him.” john 3:36
- 75. who never hear the clear gospel message? What happens to people
- 76. I don’t know
- 77. we are called to spread the news. What I do know is that
- 78. we are called to preach the gospel What I do know is that
- 79. we are called to love with sacrificial love What I do know is that
- 80. we are called to teach the clear meaning of scripture What I do know is that
- 81. we are called to make disciples What I do know is that
- 82. we are called to stand strong in the truth What I do know is that
- 83. we are called to love God and people What I do know is that
- 84. Acts 10 What did the disciples do? Open to
- 85. Acts 10:1-8
- 86. Cornelius: Devout Feared God (With all his household) Generous giver Prayed to God always
- 87. hE IS GOOD, riGHT?
- 88. gO TO Verse 34
- 89. What do we lEARN?
- 90. Everyone needs the gospel. Even the best among us are not good enough on our own.
- 91. SubjectiveObjective Reality God is real and we have broken His commandments Personal Preference People who think their religious beliefs are real and not personal preference Primary Problem: Primary Problem:
- 92. Objective Reality God is real and we have broken His commandments Jesus solves this problem Primary Problem:
- 93. Not this oneObjective Reality God is real and we have broken His commandments Personal Preference People who think their religious beliefs are real and not personal preference Primary Problem: Primary Problem: X
- 94. social pressure of pluralism or relativism or whatever else our culture throws at us May we never bow to the
- 95. remain faithful to preach the gospel, and watch for those whom God is calling to Himself May we, like those before us
- 96. Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh…
- 97. and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
- 98. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
- 99. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some,
- 100. but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. - Hebrews 10:19-25
- 101. Islam “There is no God but Allah” Next Week