Matthew 22:37 –38: Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'

This is the first and greatest commandment.

1 Peter 3:15: But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give

an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.

But do this with gentleness and respect,

APOLOGETICS“DEFENSE”

PROBLEM OF EVILPROBLEM OF EVILExistence of GodExistence of God

Either God wants to abolish evil, and cannot;Either God wants to abolish evil, and cannot;Or he can, but does not want to;Or he can, but does not want to;

Or he cannot, and does not want to. Or he cannot, and does not want to.

If he wants to, but cannot, he is impotent.If he wants to, but cannot, he is impotent.If he can, but does not want to, he is wicked.If he can, but does not want to, he is wicked.

If he neither can, nor wants to,If he neither can, nor wants to,He is both powerless and wicked. He is both powerless and wicked.

But if (as they say) God can abolish evil,But if (as they say) God can abolish evil,And God really wants to do it,And God really wants to do it,Why is there evil in the world?Why is there evil in the world?

EpicurusEpicurus

How can there be a loving God with How can there be a loving God with such evil in the world?such evil in the world?

By saying there is evil you must agree that By saying there is evil you must agree that there is good.there is good.

And if there is good and there is evil, then And if there is good and there is evil, then there must be a standard to judge between there must be a standard to judge between

the two.the two.

And if there is a standard (moral law), And if there is a standard (moral law), were did it come from?were did it come from?

There must be a moral law giver.There must be a moral law giver.We call this moral giver – God (or god).We call this moral giver – God (or god).

BUT SOME SAYBUT SOME SAY … …

There is no evilThere is no evil

I’ve never heard of anyone who believes I’ve never heard of anyone who believes this practicallythis practically

Because to do so – one would never be Because to do so – one would never be allowed to get mad when something allowed to get mad when something

“bad” happens“bad” happens

Our emotions betray our real beliefs in such an instance.

So if God is good and can stop So if God is good and can stop evil, why doesn’t He do thatevil, why doesn’t He do that?

God allows some evil to accomplish a greater good

Like a bear caught in a trap – hunter wants to release it. But

first has to shoot the bear to put it to sleep – then he has to

forcefully remove the trap. The bear would not understand this if

it was awake.

When we think about it – we remember that God used the

greatest scandal in all of history to accomplish the greatest good.

The Cross

How do we know the Bible is true?

We don’t - like all of life, it’s an issue of faith.

Believing in no God, believing that all of us are gods, or believing in God – all require

great faith.

It seems to me that it takes more faith to believe in no God than to believe in the

God of the Bible.

We lack the time to dive into this

issue (is the Bible God’s Word or

just a good book) in great depth.

But – a simple point.

Who is Jesus? If He is who He said

He was, then the Bible is true.

JESUSJESUSTwo Alternatives

His Claims Were True

His Claims Were NOT

True

IF His Claims Were NOT TrueTwo Alternatives

Knew His Claims Were False

Did NOT know His Claims Were False

He deliberately lied He was sincerely deluded

He was a hypocriteHe was a lunatic

He was a fool for He died for it!

JESUSTwo Alternatives

His Claims Were True

His Claims Were NOT True

If Jesus was GOD, then we have to If Jesus was GOD, then we have to take a serious look at what He said take a serious look at what He said

about God’s Word.about God’s Word.

Matthew 22:29

Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the

Scriptures or the power of God.

Again we lack time. Jesus quoted the Old Testament MANY times.

Matthew 22:31-32Matthew 22:31-32

But about the resurrection of the dead-- have you not read what God said to you, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac,

and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead but of the

living."

Again – it’s an issue of faith. If a Again – it’s an issue of faith. If a person studies all the evidence out person studies all the evidence out

there, one will find that there is there, one will find that there is great evidence for God and the great evidence for God and the

Bible.Bible.

I think it takes more faith to be an I think it takes more faith to be an atheist than to believe in God. atheist than to believe in God.

Romans 11:33-36Romans 11:33-36

33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the 33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unsearchable are His judgments and

unfathomable His ways! 34 For who has unfathomable His ways! 34 For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who known the mind of the Lord, or who

became His counselor? 35 Or who has became His counselor? 35 Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid first given to Him that it might be paid

back to him again? 36 For from Him and back to him again? 36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To through Him and to Him are all things. To

Him Him be be the glory forever. Amen.the glory forever. Amen.

I hope these slides help you in some way I hope these slides help you in some way (feel free to delete this slide).(feel free to delete this slide).

Feel free to contact me for any reason. I have some Feel free to contact me for any reason. I have some handouts and extra info for some of the slides that I handouts and extra info for some of the slides that I did not include. There are also a few notes at the did not include. There are also a few notes at the

bottom of some slides, but not as much as I should bottom of some slides, but not as much as I should have. If you have some great ideas or help or have. If you have some great ideas or help or

criticisms, or just want to talk, give me a call or shoot criticisms, or just want to talk, give me a call or shoot me an email. me an email.

youthpastortimo@hotmail.com(515) 448-5414(515) 448-5414