week 10 - pluralism

A cHRISTIAN

today’s worldWITNESS in

Tactics + sTRATEGIES

Relativism

The Bible

Pluralism

Islam

Sexual Revolution

Media

Training and Equipping Believers to Live Out a Confident Faith

A cHRISTIAN

today’s worldWITNESS in

Tactics + sTRATEGIES

Relativism

The Bible

Pluralism

Islam

Sexual Revolution

Media

Training and Equipping Believers to Live Out a Confident Faith

Review

What we have covered

Ambassadors

AmbassadorsKnowledge

WisdomCharacter

An accurately informed mind

An artful method of engagement

A warm and attractive manner

Part 1: TacticsOur Plan

A Christian Witness in

Today’s World

Schedule of Topics

Feb 2 & 9 - Tactics (Part 1)Feb 16 & 23 - Tactics (Part 2)

Part 2: AuthorityOur Plan

A Christian Witness in

Today’s World

Schedule of Topics

Mar 1 & 8 - RelativismMar 15 & 22 - The Bible

Feb 2 & 9 - Tactics (Part 1)Feb 16 & 23 - Tactics (Part 2)

Our Plan

The Challenge of:

Worldviews

“Whose Reality is Right?”

Part 3

Part 3: wORLDVIEWS

Apr 5 & 12 -

Apr 19 & 26 -Pluralism

Islam

Our Plan

A Christian Witness in

Today’s World

Schedule of Topics

Culture

“We can live however we want”

The Challenge Of:

Part 3: wORLDVIEWS

Apr 5 & 12 -

Apr 19 & 26 - Islam

May 3 & 10 -

May 19 & 26 -Sexual Revolution

Media / Wrap up

Pluralism

Our Plan

A Christian Witness in

Today’s World

Schedule of Topics

Why do this?

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and

some pastors and teachers,

Ephesians 4:11

for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the

edifying of the body of Christ

Ephesians 4:12

till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the

stature of the fullness of Christ

Ephesians 4:13

that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about

with every wind of doctrine

Ephesians 4:14

by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

Ephesians 4:14

but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is

the head—Christ—

Ephesians 4:15

from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies,

according to the effective working by which every part does its share

Ephesians 4:16

causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Ephesians 4:15

Tonight

The Challenge of:

Pluralism

“All Roads Lead to God”

What is Pluralism?

“All roads lead to God”

pLURALISM:There are many legitimate “paths

to God” and trusting Jesus is merely one of those paths.

Ever heard this?

“I am a Christian. I believe that Jesus is my savior. He is the only way for me. But I can’t say He is

the way for others.”

“Jesus the way for me, but not necessarily for everyone.”

They “Believe” but They don’t “know”

“Jesus the way for me, but not necessarily for everyone.”

What columbo question could we ask at this point?

“Jesus the way for me, but not necessarily for everyone.”

“Why is jesus the way for you?”

“Jesus the way for me, but not necessarily for everyone.”

“Why do others not need that like you do?”

“Jesus the way for me, but not necessarily for everyone.”

“If you need Jesus, why doesn’t everyone?”

What is the Problem?

“All roads lead to God”

what will matterWhen our lives end,

most at that moment?

which Religious clubWill it be:

you chose to belong to (or not belong to) during your life?

(mormonism)

(JW)

(Heritage)

MATTERS?Is this what really

hARDLY

1. Does God Exist?What will matter is:

2. hAVE WE KEPTHis commandments?

Does God Exist?

1) Relativism doesn’t explain morality2) The Bible has unique, supernatural

qualities that nothing else has

If the Bible comes from God, then it has authority.

his commandments?Have we broken

If the Bible comes from God, then His commandments matter.

his commandments?Have we broken

what will matterWhen our lives end,

most at that moment?

His commandments?Have we kept

Have we? Not so much.

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:

His commandmentsGod is real and we have broken

Now What?

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

thE Offer

punishment“I will take your

and offer you mercy instead of judgment!”

- God

What are the terms?

Only One way

Jesus

pLURALISM:There are many legitimate “paths

to God” and trusting Jesus is merely one of those paths.

One way or many ways?

thE bIBLE’S pOSITION

“All roads lead to God”

JesusDoes the Bible really teach that

is the only way?

Yes.

All over the place

Jesus…is the only source of salvation for the world

is the Father’s choiceprovides forgiveness of sin

will be man’s judge on that final day

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

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and

elders of Israel:

Acts 4:8

“The only source of salvation”

If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what

means he has been made well,

Acts 4:9

“The only source of salvation”

let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of

Jesus Christ of Nazareth

Acts 4:10

“The only source of salvation”

whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands

here before you whole.

Acts 4:10

“The only source of salvation”

This is the “stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the

chief cornerstone.’

Acts 4:11

“The only source of salvation”

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

“The only source of salvation”

Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who

denies the Father and the Son.

1john 2:22

“reJECTING jeSUS IS REJECTING gOD”

Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges

the Son has the Father also.

1john 2:23

“reJECTING jeSUS IS REJECTING gOD”

And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as

He gave us commandment.

1john 3:23

“jESUS IS gOD’S cHOICE”

“And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life and this life is in

his Son.

1john 5:11

“jESUS IS gOD’S cHOICE”

He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not

have the life.”

“jESUS IS gOD’S cHOICE”

1john 5:12

“for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

john 8:24

“jESUS forgives sins”

“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

“Rejecting Jesus Brings Wrath”

“I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law,

then Christ died in vain.”

Galatians 3:21

“No other alternatives”

ManThe Bible is very clear.

is in rebellion against God

ManThe Bible is very clear.

will be held accountable for his rebellion

GodThe Bible is very clear.

offers a way of mercy over justice

JesusThe Bible is very clear.

is God’s offer of forgiveness

Jesus aloneThe Bible is very clear.

is God’s offer of forgiveness

pluralismThe Bible is very clear.

is not an option.

Introducing Challenges

“All roads lead to God”

“You Christians think you have the truth, but you only have one part of

the larger truth about God.”

“What matters is people’s sincerity, not their specific beliefs or religion.”

“Christ is the grounds of faith, but he doesn’t have to be the object”

“People can benefit from Jesus’ sacrifice without directly

believing in it”

or, said another way…

“Old Testament saints didn’t have to believe in Jesus, so it’s not

mandatory”

Who said this?

“There is only one God and He is God to all. Therefore it is important that

everyone is seen as equal before God.

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

Do you agree?

Does Jesus agree?

Next Week

“All roads lead to God”

Discussion and Response

“All roads lead to God”