Nov 19th, 2017 – What do you know?Passage to set context: 1 Peter 4:12-17

Context of Peters Letter

Who was Peter writing to?

Christians scattered in Asia Minor

What was going on?

Emperor Nero

What happened?

Became emperor at 16, in year 54 A.D.

Died in year 68 A.D.

Is often remembered for his tyranny

Had his mother killed when he was 21 because he wanted to do things his “own” way

In 64 A.D. was the “Great Fire of Rome”

Fire was blamed on Christians

Started numerous years of official persecution of Christians by Rome.

Wasn’t until 313 A.D. that Christianity was recognized by Rome.

Christians were sought out and killed, often times in ways unimaginable

Nero would round up Christians, encase them in wax, tie them to a post or a tree, and light them on fire to light his garden.

Nero was the last of the Julio-Claudian Dynasty

Passage to set context: 1 Peter 4:12-17

If we are a follower of Christ, if we are a disciple of Jesus, our calling is to Grow in Faith.

Colossians 3:16

Let the message about the Messiah dwell richly among you, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, and singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God.

Ephesians 4:15

But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head — Christ.

If we are a follower of Christ, if we are a disciple of Jesus, our calling is to Grow in Faith.

If our identity is set with Christ, we should long to understand Him more.

Goes beyond “trial and error” faith.

It involves reading and studying our bibles!

Examine our text – 1 Peter 3:13-17

Apologetics – ability to answer a question

The command of our text is “always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you”

What apologetics is not –

Debates about:

Calvinism, Traditionalist, Reformed, Middle Ground

Historic Premillennialism, Amillennialism, Postmillennialism, Modern Premillennialism, Pre-tribulation, Mid-tribulation, Post-tribulation, or somewhere in between

Justifying Republicans, Democrats, Libertarian, or any other political party

Defending song choice, song style, what the pastor wears, the color of the carpet, or how long the pastor should preach.

Apologetics is not defending our position on something.

It is defending where our hope lies – in Christ

This does include understanding fundamental elements to our faith and what the Bible teaches.

What apologetics is –

Understanding that Jesus is God, is seated at the right hand of the father, and was not “Plan B”

The resurrection of Jesus was real, and there were eyewitnesses

Understanding the principles of the 10 commandments and how they are relevant

Knowing that we were created by God in His image.

September 5, 2017

Newman University (UK Catholic School) survey

Majority of people in UK (71%) & Canada (60%) (including those who identify as “religious” or “spiritual”) accept evolution or theistic evolution as the origin of species.

Only 9% in the UK and 15% in Canada believe that humans and other living things were created by God

May 22, 2017 - Gallup Poll Survey

Believe in Biblical account of creation

Protestant/Christian – 50%

Catholic – 37%

Believe humans evolved, God guided process

Protestant/Christian – 39%

Catholic – 45%

Believe humans evolved, God NOT involved

Protestant/Christian – 6%

Catholic – 11%

Gallup Poll Survey – cont’d

Pollsters that stated they attended church on a WEEKLY basis:

Believed Biblical account of creation – 65%

Believed humans evolved – God guided process – 28%

Believed humans evolved – God NOT involved – 1%

Let’s look at what Genesis says:

Genesis 1:26

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, all the earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.”

So God created man in His own image;

He created him in the image of God;

He created them male and female.

In case you think there is any room for animals to still evolve, let’s look at verse 20.

Genesis 2:7

Then the Lord God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.

February 12, 2017 – ComRes Survey

UK Active Christians that believe the biblical account of Jesus’ Resurrection – 57%

UK Active Christians that believe in Jesus’ resurrection but that some events aren’t to be taken literally – 36%

UK Active Christians that do not believe in the resurrection of Jesus – 5%

American Bible Society 2017 Survey

24% of Practicing Christians don’t read their bible outside of Church.

9% of Practicing Christians don’t desire to read their Bible

#1 Excuse for not reading the bible – “Too busy with life’s responsibilities”

2 Timothy 3:16-17

All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

2 Peter 3:17-18

Therefore, dear friends, since you know this in advance, be on your guard, so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:5-8

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Christians who cannot present a biblically clear explanation of their faith will be insecure when strongly challenged by unbelievers. In some cases that insecurity can undermine their assurance of salvation. The world’s attacks can overwhelm those who have not “put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation”.

– John MacArthur