Lesson 12:Lesson 12:The Closing The Closing ArgumentsArguments

The QuintilemmaThe Quintilemma

(Page 54 in Student Workbook)(Page 54 in Student Workbook)

The QuintilemmaThe Quintilemma

The New Testament is correct.

The New Testament presents Jesus as an historical man who claims to be God.

The New Testament is not correct.

Jesus is a Legend

Jesus meant to be taken in a mystical sense.

Jesus meant to be taken literally.

Jesus is a Guru.

The claim of deity was false. The claim of deity was true.

Jesus is LORD.

He knew it was false. He didn’t know it was false.

Jesus is a Liar. Jesus is a Lunatic.

I. Why Not a I. Why Not a Legend?Legend?

The N.T. is historically The N.T. is historically reliablereliable, , confirmed by the Bibliographical confirmed by the Bibliographical Test, Test, InternalInternal Evidence, and Evidence, and ExternalExternal Evidence. Evidence.

The N.T. therefore gives an The N.T. therefore gives an accurateaccurate picture of Jesus—what picture of Jesus—what He did and what He said.He did and what He said.

II. Why Not II. Why Not a Guru?a Guru?

Jesus was a Jew raised in a strictly Jesus was a Jew raised in a strictly monotheisticmonotheistic culture. culture.

Jesus’ teaching was not the Jesus’ teaching was not the teaching of an Eastern teaching of an Eastern mysticmystic, but , but that of a Jewish rabbi who believed that of a Jewish rabbi who believed in in oneone transcendent Creator. transcendent Creator.

““I am trying here to prevent anyone saying I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: ‘I’m ready to accept Jesus as a about Him: ‘I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.’ That is the one thing we claim to be God.’ That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great not be a great moral teachermoral teacher. He would . He would either be a either be a lunaticlunatic—on the level with the —on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg—or else man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the he would be the devil of Helldevil of Hell..

““You must make your choice. Either this You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madmanmadman or something worse. You can shut or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool; you can spit at Him and Him up for a fool; you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”intend to.”C.S. Lewis.C.S. Lewis.

III. Why NotIII. Why Nota Liar?a Liar?

According to Peter Kreeft, a Christian According to Peter Kreeft, a Christian apologist, Jesus couldn’t be a liar:apologist, Jesus couldn’t be a liar:

1.1.““Because he has the wrong psychological Because he has the wrong psychological profilesprofiles. He was . He was unselfishunselfish, loving, caring, , loving, caring, compassionate, and passionate about teaching compassionate, and passionate about teaching truthtruth and helping others to truth. Liars lie for and helping others to truth. Liars lie for selfishselfish reasons, like money, fame, pleasure or reasons, like money, fame, pleasure or power. Jesus gave up all worldly goods, and power. Jesus gave up all worldly goods, and life itself.life itself.

2.2.““Because there is no conceivable Because there is no conceivable motivemotive for for his lie. It brought him hatred, rejection, his lie. It brought him hatred, rejection, misunderstanding, persecution, torture and misunderstanding, persecution, torture and deathdeath.”.”

IV. Why Not a IV. Why Not a Lunatic?Lunatic?

Why Jesus could not have been a lunatic:Why Jesus could not have been a lunatic:

1.1. ““Because the psychological profiles are Because the psychological profiles are opposite. The lunatic lacks the very qualities opposite. The lunatic lacks the very qualities that shine in Jesus- practical that shine in Jesus- practical wisdomwisdom, tough , tough love, and unpredictable love, and unpredictable creativitycreativity..

2.2. ““No Jew could sincerely think he was No Jew could sincerely think he was GodGod. . No group in history was less likely to No group in history was less likely to confuse the Creator with a creature than the confuse the Creator with a creature than the Jews, the only people who had an absolute, Jews, the only people who had an absolute, and absolutely clear, and absolutely clear, distinctiondistinction between the between the divine and the human.”divine and the human.”

V. What Is the V. What Is the Only ReasonableOnly Reasonable

Option?Option?

Jesus is Jesus is LordLord..

ConclusionsConclusions

Premise A:Premise A:The New Testament is historically The New Testament is historically accurate; it is a basically accurate; it is a basically reliablereliable and trustworthy document.and trustworthy document.

Premise B:Premise B:On the basis of this reliable On the basis of this reliable document, we have sufficient document, we have sufficient evidence to believe that Jesus evidence to believe that Jesus roserose from the dead as He predicted He from the dead as He predicted He would, and that He fulfilled dozens would, and that He fulfilled dozens of other Messianic prophecies.of other Messianic prophecies.

Premise C:Premise C:Jesus’ resurrection and fulfillment of Jesus’ resurrection and fulfillment of prophecy show that He was who He prophecy show that He was who He said He was: the said He was: the MessiahMessiah, the Son of , the Son of God—God—GodGod in the flesh. in the flesh.

Premise D:Premise D:As the Son of God (God the Son), As the Son of God (God the Son), Jesus Christ is an Jesus Christ is an infallibleinfallible authority authority—What He says is absolutely —What He says is absolutely trustworthy.trustworthy.

Premise E:Premise E:Jesus Christ taught that the Bible is Jesus Christ taught that the Bible is the the Word of GodWord of God (Matt 5:18, 15:4; (Matt 5:18, 15:4; Mark 12:36; Mark 12:36; Luke 24:44–46). He also Luke 24:44–46). He also taught that He is the only way to God taught that He is the only way to God (John 14:6).(John 14:6).

ConclusionConclusionIf Christ said it, we must believe it. If Christ said it, we must believe it. The Bible is the Word of The Bible is the Word of GodGod, and , and Jesus is the Only Way to God.Jesus is the Only Way to God.

Application of Application of LessonLesson

A.A. Present the flowchart to an Present the flowchart to an unbeliever who may have doubts unbeliever who may have doubts about the deity of Christ.about the deity of Christ.

B.B. Present the diagram of the Present the diagram of the general argument for Christianity general argument for Christianity to someone who doubts the to someone who doubts the validity of Christianity.validity of Christianity.