HOLY SPIRIT AND WITNESSING FOR JESUS

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. 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)

I.                   Introduction

In His final instructions to His disciple, the Resurrected Jesus informed His disciples that His Heavenly Father, the true and living LORD God, had given Him all authority in the universe – both heaven and earth.[1] The living LORD God of heaven and earth (also known as “Yahweh” or the LORD) made His Son Jesus both Lord and Messiah, and He placed all things and people under His Son’s power and authority.[2]

After His appointment of authority, the Resurrected Jesus promised to give His disciples the Holy Spirit from His Father, so they could continue His earthly ministry and become His witnesses everywhere — from Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.[3] Then, the Resurrected Jesus empowered His disciples through His Holy Spirit to go and make more disciples in all the nations of the world and proclaim the Good News of forgiveness and grace from His Heavenly Father through Him.[4] Furthermore, the Resurrected Jesus instructed His disciples to teach and train these new disciples to obey all His commands He had given them.[5] Finally, the Resurrected Jesus promised that He would always be present with His disciples by the Holy Spirit as they witnessed to the world about Him and His Gospel message.[6] 

Ever since Jesus’ commissioning, Christians have understood their privilege and responsibility to witness and share the Gospel of the Resurrected Jesus and His grace to others.[7] Christians know that Jesus is the only hope for this world.[8] However, many Christians question how to proclaim Jesus’ Good News message of forgiveness, hope, and grace to the nations.

 

II.                Witnessing for Jesus

In the book of Acts, the Gospel writer Luke continued the Resurrected Jesus’ story and ministry on earth through the Holy Spirit and His disciples.[9] With the Holy Spirit’s power and grace, Jesus’ disciples continued to proclaim the Resurrected Jesus and His Gospel messages of repentance, forgiveness, salvation, healing, hope, abundant life, and peace that come to all people and nations through faith in Him, who is Lord and Judge of all creation.[10] Even more, these disciples continued the Resurrected Jesus’ Gospel message about God’s Kingdom and Jesus’ good and life-giving works.[11] Moreover, in the book of Acts, Jesus’ early disciples proclaimed the existence of the living LORD God – the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – and His Son, Jesus.[12] Through these disciples’ Good News messages about God and His Son Jesus, many people who believed received healing, salvation, righteousness, joy, and deliverance from the evil one because the Holy Spirit’s power was with Jesus’ disciples.[13]

Moreover, these early disciples proclaimed the message that the Resurrected Jesus is the Son of the living LORD God of heaven and earth.[14] All the more, these early disciples, who were Jews, proclaimed and reasoned from the Holy Scriptures — from Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth the Good News that the Resurrected Jesus is the long-awaited and promised Jewish Messiah and Lord as predicted by the Old Testament Jewish prophets.[15] These early disciples witnessed and proclaimed the Resurrected Jesus, particularly the Apostle Paul, because they personally experienced and eyewitness the Resurrected Jesus’ power and heard His message, and their lives were forever changed.[16] These disciples saw Jesus’ glorious Light, and they could testify that Jesus is the Light and hope of the world.[17]

Through the Holy Spirit's providential work, the Good News message of the living LORD God and His Son Jesus was taken from a small gathering of one hundred and twenty (120) Jews in Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.[18] The Holy Spirit empowered these small group of Jews to proclaim the Gospel message not just to Israel but to the entire world.[19]  The early disciples’ of Jesus were empowered by the Holy Spirit, which is the power of God.[20] The Holy Spirit’s power gave ordinary people divine power to proclaim the Resurrected Jesus’ Gospel message.[21] Even more, God’s Holy Spirit empowered and strengthened Jesus’ disciples to proclaim God’s message with boldness, wisdom, and divine reason and testify about Jesus.[22] The early disciples’ message was one of abundant life through faith in the Resurrected Jesus, the Author of Life.[23]

Many people often ask, “Who is the Holy Spirit, and how can I receive the Holy Spirit?” The Holy Spirit is part of the One God, who exists in Three Persons – God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Spirit.[24] The Triune God – God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Spirit – are One in essence and nature. The Holy Spirit is the power of God, and this power confirms the truth and existence of God, Jesus, and the Gospel message.[25] In addition, the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth, and the Spirit of Truth testifies and confirms through the Gospel message the integrity and existence of God and His Son, Jesus.[26]  The Holy Spirit gives life and understanding to the disciples’ message of the Good News about Jesus.[27] Finally, the Holy Scriptures declare that Jesus received the Holy Spirit from His Holy Father – the living LORD God of heaven and earth.[28] Then, the living LORD God and His Son Jesus graciously give the Holy Spirit – leading to repentance and new life – to everyone who believes and obeys Jesus.[29] Everyone who believes and obeys Jesus receives the Holy Spirit of God and adoption into the living Sovereign LORD God’s family.[30]

 

III.             Proclaiming Christ

Throughout the centuries, classical, modern, and postmodern apologists have taken various apologetic approaches to witness and proclaim the Good News of forgiveness and peace with God, healing, and salvation through faith in Jesus as the Jewish Messiah (Christ) and Son of God.[31] Such apologists Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, John Calvin, C.S. Lewis, Francis Schaeffer, Ravi Zacharias, and Timothy Keller have used various methods to proclaim Christ in a diverse and religiously multicultural world. These classical and modern apologists have used reason, dialogue, metaphor, and even sarcasm to explain the true message of the Resurrected Jesus to others so they could believe and discover the hope of the world.[32]

 

IV.             Definition of Apologetics

Apologetics is the process of proclaiming and witnessing the Resurrected Jesus and His gracious message to others. The best proof text for apologetics comes from 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. 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)

 

In 1 Peter 3:15, the Apostle Peter first acknowledged that anyone wishing to proclaim Jesus must set apart and honor in their hearts that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah) and Lord.[33] Then, the Apostle Peter encouraged the early church to be ready and prepared to give an answer and reason to anyone who asks about their living hope in Jesus. However, the Apostle Peter explained giving an answer and explanation must be done with gentleness and respect. A believer’s gentleness and respect involve listening carefully to the other side and respecting other faith systems' beliefs without heated arguments or controversy.[34]

Apologetics has many different definitions from people. Essentially, apologetics means defense and a type of witnesses and encompasses both dialogue and polemics (arguments).[35] Sometimes apologetics is offensive and sometimes defensive.[36] Often, apologetics flows between defending the faith and promoting the reasonableness of our faith in the Resurrected Jesus.[37] Without this balance, one can lead to pluralism, inclusivism, and universalism. On the other hand, defending the faith can lead to exclusivism. Thus, apologetics involves a continuous flow of defending our faith in the Resurrected Jesus and promoting our faith's reasonableness.

There are basically three reasons for apologetics – preparation, defense, and refutation.[38] First, apologetics instructs believers of Jesus to honor Him as Lord of their life. Further, apologetics provides a defense for the Resurrected Jesus against attacks by other religions, philosophies, or doctrines. Finally, apologetics offer methods to disprove heresy, false beliefs, and sacrilege about Jesus. The goal of apologetics is to defend the truth that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah) and the Son of the living LORD God, and He is the Savior and hope of the world.[39]

Truly, the Sovereign LORD of heaven and earth sent His Son Jesus to be the Lord and Savior of the world.[40] Jesus is the Prince of God, Savior of the world, and He is Lord.[41] The Lord Jesus came to earth to take away humanities' sins as the sacrificial and sinless Passover Lamb of God on Calvary’s Cross so that we might die to sin, become healed (saved), and live for goodness.[42] Salvation is found in our Lord Jesus and no one else, for there is no other name nor human under heaven given to humankind by which we may be saved from God’s wrath and judgment.[43] Through faith and obedience to Jesus, we receive salvation (healing and safety), changed hearts and lives, and have our sins forgiven.[44]

A good biblical example of apologetics is found in Acts 17. In Acts 17, when the Apostle Paul appealed to the “unknown god,” he proclaimed the message of the true God of heaven and earth and His Son Jesus through dialogue and polemics. Apostle Paul gently and respectfully defended His faith in the God of Israel and His Son Jesus and refuted error about other gods so that these unbelieving Greeks could come to God and His Son Jesus as the source of all truth and the Savior of the whole world. 

 

V.                Apologetic Methods

Apologetics means understanding both sides of the arguments by defending what one believes and refuting error. To do this successfully require various methods, faith, and reason.[45] Different apologetic approaches have been used throughout the centuries to proclaim the Gospel message of the Resurrected Jesus. The Holy Scriptures do not outline any single definitive method to proclaim the Gospel message. Instead, the Holy Scriptures uses different kinds of apologetic appeals and persuasions to make a case for the Resurrected Jesus.[46] Moreover, throughout church history, apologists have used various Biblical and extrabiblical methods to explain and proclaim the Gospel message.[47] Therefore, the diversity of the apologetic appeals found in the Holy Scriptures and the various apologetic methods found in church history warn readers today not to be rigid when proclaiming the Gospel message.

Today, apologetic scholars have set forth six apologetic methods to proclaim the Resurrected Jesus and His message. The six apologetic methods include the following:  classical, evidential, presuppositional, Reformed epistemology, experiential/narratival (storytelling), and cumulative case. [48] Classical, evidential, presuppositional, and experiential/narratival (storytelling) are considered “traditional” methods.[49] The classical and evidential methods rely upon general revelation, inductive reasoning, and evidence.[50] These methods follow Aristotle’s method of reason and philosophy.[51] However, the presuppositional and experimental/narrative methods rely upon special revelation, theology, and faith.[52] The philosopher Plato also used faith and theology in his arguments. The Reformed epistemology method uses special revelation.[53] The cumulative method combines or pools together classical, evidential, presuppositional, Reformed epistemology, and experiential/narratival (storytelling) methods to effectively proclaim the Resurrected Jesus and the Gospel message.

Scholars have debated for years which apologetic method works best when making a case for Christ. Nevertheless, many scholars have come to recognize, such as John Frame, when arguing for their specific apologetic method that there are other ways to make a case for Christ.[54] Finding the best map that leads to the Resurrected Jesus and His life-saving message is not based upon finding an eternal or universal apologetic map but by using many different methods.

Of the six apologetic methods, this author prefers the cumulative case method to proclaim and witness the Resurrected Jesus. The cumulative case method does not separate the other methods. Instead, the cumulative case method believes there are many possible ways to make a case for the Resurrected Jesus and His message and recognize all apologetic methods' validity.[55] The cumulative case method uses a collection of arguments and reasoning from the classical, evidential, presuppositional, Reformed epistemology, and experiential/narratival approaches to argue a case for Christ. In many ways, the soft version of each of these methods is the cumulative case method.[56] The cumulative case method argues Christ's case based on the person's circumstances. Besides, the other apologetic methods are not sealed off from the other methods. In his book The Reason for God, Timothy Keller contextualize and creatively used various apologetic methods to make his case for Jesus and His message.[57]

The cumulative method has become more popular because this method cuts across the fabric of the other apologetic methods. Because of its flexibility, the cumulative method focuses the situation and evidence. Thus, the cumulative method seems to be a more balanced way of approaching many of the issues believers face with witnessing and proclaiming the real message of Jesus.[58]

A good example of the cumulative case method is found in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23.[59] In 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, the Apostle Paul used various arguments, ideas, and philosophies when making a case for Christ. The Apostle Paul recognized that different people find different arguments more persuasive than other arguments.[60] Any good witness for Christ will use the method that best suits the hearer.[61] For example, a rigid scientist would prefer an analytical approach, while a devout Muslim may prefer another approach when proclaiming Christ.

Essentially, the cumulative case method recognizes that the best apologetic method is person-specific and what is best for others.[62] The best apologetic method – whether classical, evidential, presuppositional, Reformed epistemology, or experiential/narratival – is others-centered. The cumulative case method applies the apologetic approach that best fits others and the situation.

Apologist Francis Schaeffer once wrote:

 

If we are truly personal, as created by God, then each individual will differ from everyone else. Therefore, each man must be dealt with as an individual, not as a case or statistic or machine …. There is no set formula that meets everyone’s needs, and if only applied as a mechanical formula, I doubt if it really meets anyone’s need – short of an act of God’s mercy.[63]

 

VI.             Combing Holy Spirit and Apologetics

 

 

This author believes the cumulative method combined with the Holy Spirit is the best apologetic method. In our modern setting, such apologists as Ravi Zacharias and his organization RZIM have exemplified how to unite apologetics and the Holy Spirit to proclaim Jesus and His Gospel message.[64] Essentially, the Holy Spirit is the Chief and active Apologist.[65] The goal of apologetics is seeking the truth about God and His Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit confirms this message. The Holy Spirit works in and through all human apologetic methods and efforts to proclaim and reason the truth about God and His Son Jesus. The bottom line, without God’s Holy Spirit, no one can proclaim the Gospel message of Jesus that brings people to God and salvation even with their best human reason and methods.[66] No human efforts or human methods without reliance on the living LORD God and His Holy Spirit.[67]

 

VII.          Apologetics and Good Works

 

In the New Testament, Jesus and His disciples encouraged believers to study and obey the Holy Scriptures and to teach others to do the same.[68] Knowing the Holy Scriptures allows believers to communicate their hope and belief in the Resurrected Jesus effectively.[69]  Nevertheless, apologetics also encourages believers of Jesus to know and understand other belief systems so that Christian believers will be ready and able to answer questions about their faith and their future hope.[70]

As mentioned earlier, the Apostle Peter instructed Jesus’ disciples to first submit to Jesus as both Lord and Messiah in their hearts before proclaiming the Good News message.[71] Next, the Apostle Peter instructed Jesus’ disciples to proclaim the Good News of Jesus to others with gentleness, compassion, respect, humility, and most importantly with the truth.[72] Gentleness and respect involve listening carefully to the other side and respecting their belief of faith without leading to heated arguments, fights, and controversy. [73] While knowledge makes us feel important, love and mercy strengthen the church and draw people to Jesus.[74] In proclaiming the Good News message of Jesus, believers must make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual upbuilding for God’s glory and goodness towards others.[75]

Furthermore, the Apostle Peter encouraged fellow believers to have a good conscience and live holy lives so that, if anyone insulted or despised them, their good deed and holy behavior in Christ Jesus would put them to shame.[76] No one will want to harm believers of Jesus and their message for doing good, but even if they suffer, God will reward their good deeds.[77]

Finally, the Apostle Paul instructed believers to be courageous and strong in the Lord Jesus and His mighty power and put on our full spiritual armor of God when proclaiming Jesus.[78] Believers must rely upon the Lord Jesus’ Spirit for the power and might and use His weapons of righteousness to proclaim His life-changing message.[79] As we proclaim the Good News of Jesus, believers will often battle and fight against rulers, authorities, powers of this dark world, and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.[80] Therefore, the Apostle Paul encouraged fellow believers to stand firm for their faith in Jesus.[81] While standing firm, the Apostle Paul instructed believers to be filled with truth, goodness, peace, faith, prayer, patience, and most importantly, the Word of God.[82] Often, people of the world are captives of the evil one, his worldview, and trickery. Jesus’ spiritual armor helps you to fight against the evil one and his dark powers.[83] The Resurrected Jesus has been given by His Heavenly Father all authority and power on earth and the heavens.[84]

To effectively proclaim Jesus to the world, believers of Jesus must develop a good knowledge of the Bible and “fighter” verses such as Ephesians 2:8-10; John 1:1; and 1 Peter 3:15.[85] Sometimes, other faiths will misquote or misinterpret the Holy Scriptures out of context. Therefore, believers of Jesus must study, understand, and know God’s Word to defeat the evil one’s trickery.[86] Also, believers must know how to defend the historical resurrection of Christ.[87] Jesus’ resurrection is the greatest evidence that Jesus is God.[88] Moreover, believers of Jesus must defend the Holy Scriptures' authority and truth as the revealed Word of God and not become “sidetrack” on minor issues such as scribal errors.[89] The Word of God is true and eternal from everlasting to everlasting and never changes.[90] Furthermore, believers of Jesus must also understand the teaching of a particular religion or cult and how they compare to Jesus.[91] Finally, believers must rely on God and His Holy Spirit when proclaiming Jesus’ message. Believers cannot convict people. As disciples of Jesus, our task is to proclaim Jesus and His Good News and allow the power of the Holy Spirit to change and save.[92] Therefore, believers are to proclaim the Resurrected Jesus as lovingly, effectively, and truthfully as possible knowing He is always with us (see Matthew 28:20).

The Apostle Paul modeled these qualities when he proclaimed the message of Jesus to the Athenians at the Areopagus.[93] In that message, the Apostle Paul explained the unchanging Gospel message of Jesus so that the Athenians could understand and appreciate.[94] At the same time, the Apostle Paul did not shrink from proclaiming the Resurrected Jesus’s life and ministry, including His resurrection from the dead and ascension to heaven.

Like the Apostle Paul, when believers share the Gospel message of Jesus to others, we must be mindful of our culture and yet never compromise the truth about Jesus.[95] We must always season our invitation and declaration of Jesus to others with compassion, truth, love, and patience so that unbelievers may see our good deeds and glorify our Father in heaven.[96] Reaching out to others and proclaiming Jesus requires faith, patience, and the love of Jesus.[97]

 

References

 

ESV Study Bible, English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008).[i]

 

NIV Essentials Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2013).

 

Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008).

 

Chatraw Joshua D. and Allen, Mark D. Apologetics at the Cross: An Introduction for Christian Witness (Grand Rapids, MI:  Zondervan Academics, 2018).

 

Dr. Daniel Janosik, Ph.D., Professor of Apologetics and World Religions (Due West, SC: Erskine Theological Seminary, Fall 2020).

 

Janosik, Daniel. Answering Muslim Objections to the Gospel. 

 

Janosik, Daniel. Toward a New Paradigm for Apologetics.

 

Richey, Lola. Real Life. (Greenville, SC: Amazon Kindle, 2020).  

 

Taylor, Mark. Adult Discipleship Leader Training (Simpsonville, SC: Brookwood Church, 2020).  

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[1] Matthew 28:18; e.g., see also Daniel 7:13-14; Matthew 11:27; John 3:35; Colossians 2:9-10; Hebrews 1:2.

[2] E.g., see Exodus 3:14-15; Matthew 16:16; Mark 9:7; John 13:3; John 17:2; John 20:30-31; Acts 2:36; Acts 5:31; Romans 14:9; 1 Corinthians 15:27; Ephesians 1:10, 20-22; Philippians 2:9-10; 1 Peter 3:22.

[3] Acts 1:4-5, 8, 22; see also John 15:26-27; Acts 2:33.

[4] Matthew 28:19; see also Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-48; Acts 1:8.

[5] Matthew 28:20; see also John 14:15.

[6] Matthew 28:20; see also Matthew 1:23; John 12:26; John 14:15-21, 23-24; Acts 1:4-5, 8; Acts 18:9-10. The Gospel and the Good News are used interchangeably when referring to Jesus. Christians use the word Gospel or Good News as the message of God's saving activity through the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of God's only and unique Son, Jesus.

[7] E.g., see Acts 4:19-20; Acts 5:29-30.

[8] E.g., see Matthew 12:21; Romans 5:1-2; Hebrews 3:6.

[9] See Acts 1:1-5.

[10] Acts 4:8-12, 33; Acts 5:31; Acts 8:35; Acts 10:34-36, 42; Acts 13:4, 48-49; Acts 15:11; Acts 16:30-32; Acts 20:21, 24; Acts 24:24-25; Acts 26:18, 20; e.g., see also Luke 24:45-49; Romans 1:16-17; Romans 10:9, 11-13.

[11] Acts 3:13-15, 19-20; Acts 8:12; Acts 10:37-38; Acts 19:8; Acts 28:30-31; e.g., see Matthew 4:23-25; Mark 1:14-15.

[12] E.g., see Acts 14:15; Acts 15:19; Acts 17:24-31.

[13] E.g., see Acts 3:6-8, 16; Acts 4:12-16; Acts 8:5-8; Acts 9:34-35; Acts 10:43; Acts 11:21; Acts 13:38-39.

[14] E.g., see Matthew 16:16; John 1:34, 49; Acts 9:20

[15] Acts 2:36; Acts 5:42; Acts 8:4-5; Acts 9:22; Acts 17:2-3; Acts 18:5, 28; see also Isaiah 11:1-10; Isaiah 42:1-9; Ezekiel 34:23-24; Micah 5:1-6; Matthew 1:1, 16-17; Matthew 16:16; Matthew 28:18; Luke 2:11; John 1:41; John 4:25-26; John 11:27.

[16] E.g., see Acts 9:1-9, 27; 1 Corinthians 15:1-9; Galatians 1:16; 1 John 1:1-4.

[17] E.g., see Matthew 12:21; Matthew 17:2; Luke 9:29; Acts 9:3; Acts 22:6-8; Acts 26:13-14; Colossians 1:23, 27; Revelation 1:16; Revelation 10:1.

[18] E.g., see Acts 1:8, 15; Acts 9:15, 17; Acts 13:9.

[19] Chatraw Joshua D. and Allen, Mark D. Apologetics at the Cross: An Introduction for Christian Witness (Grand Rapids, MI:  Zondervan Academics, 2018), p. 47.

[20] See Acts 9:17; Romans 1:16-17; 1 Corinthians 1:18, 24.

[21] E.g., see Acts 14:1, 7, 15-18.

[22] E.g., see John 15:26-27; Acts 4:13, 29, 31; Acts 6:8-10.

[23] E.g., see John 1:4-5; John 6:63, 68; John 10:10; Acts 3:15; Acts 5:20.

[24] E.g., see Deuteronomy 6:4-6; Matthew 6:9; Matthew 16:16; John 1:1-5; John 20:21-22; 28; John 20:30-31. To discover more about the Holy Spirit and His works, read John chapters 14 through 16 and Romans 8

[25] See Romans 1:16-17; 1 Corinthians 1:18, 24.

[26] E.g., see John 4:24; John 14:6, 17; John 15:26-27; John 16:13-15; 1 Corinthians 2:6-16.

[27] E.g., see John 6:63; 1 Corinthians 2:10, 14; Ephesians 1:17-18.

[28] E.g. see Acts 1:4-5; Acts 2:33.

[29] E.g., see Mark 1:8; John 3:3-8; John 14:15-21, 23-24; John 15:4-5; Acts 2:38; Acts 5:32; Acts 11:15-18.

[30] E.g., see John 1:12-13; John 3:3-8; Acts 5:32; 1 John 4:15-16.

[31] E.g., see Acts 9:20, 22. Messiah is the Hebrew form of the Greek name Christ or Christos, which means Anointed One (John 1:41; John 4:25-26; see also Matthew 1:16-17). At Jesus’ birth, the holy angels announced Jesus’ titles: Savior, Christ (Messiah, Anointed One), and Lord (Yahweh, or God) (Luke 2:11, see also Matthew 1:21; Acts 2:36). The title Son of God can serve as a synonym for “Messiah.”

[32] Chatraw at pp. 70-78, 95-96, 101, 137, 176, 218-219.

[33] E.g., see Matthew 1:1, 16-17; Luke 2:10-11; John 3:16-17; John 4:42; Acts 5:31; Romans 10:9-10.

[34] Janosik, Daniel. “Answering Muslim Objections to the Gospel” p. 1.

[35] Janosik, Fall 2020.

[36] Ibid.

[37] Janosik, Daniel. Toward a New Paradigm for Apologetics. pp. 1, 11.

[38] Janosik, Daniel. Toward a New Paradigm for Apologetics p. 3.

[39] E.g., see Matthew 16:16; Luke 2:10-11; John 4:42; John 20:30-31; Acts 4:10-12; Acts 9:20, 22; Acts 13:23, 32, 38-39; Acts 18:5, 22; Jude 1:24-25.

[40] E.g., see Matthew 1:21; Luke 2:11; John 3:16-17; John 4:42; John 12:47; 1 John 4:14.

[41] E.g., see Acts 5:31; Romans 10:9.

[42] E.g., see Isaiah 53:9, 11-12; 1 Corinthians 15:3; Hebrews 9:26; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 3:5, 8-9.

[43] E.g., see John 3:15-17, 31-36; Acts 4:12; Acts 5:31; Acts 15:11; see also Matthew 1:21; Romans 11:14

[44] E.g., see Luke 24:47; Acts 4:12; Acts 10:43; Acts 13:23; Romans 10:13.

[45] Janosik, Fall 2020.

[46] Chatraw p. 105

[47] Chatraw p. 105

[48] Chatraw at pp. 106-107

[49] Dr. Daniel Janosik, Ph.D., Professor of Apologetics and World Religions (Due West, SC: Erskine Theological Seminary, Fall 2020).

[50] Ibid.

[51] Ibid.

[52] Ibid.

[53] Ibid.

[54] Chatraw at pp. 119, 129.

[55] Chatraw at p. 106.

[56] Chatraw at p. 130.

[57] Chatraw p. 126.

[58] Janosik, Fall 2020.

[59] Taylor, Mark. Adult Discipleship Leader Training (Simpsonville, SC: Brookwood Church, 2020). 

[60] Chatraw at p. 130.

[61] Chatraw at 130.

[62] Chatraw at 130-131.

[63] Chatraw quoting Francis Schaeffer, “The Question of Apologetics,” at p. 105.

[64] Chatraw at p. 137.

[65] Chatraw at p. 48.

[66] Chatraw at pp. 137-138, 145.

[67] E.g., see Jeremiah 17:5-10.

[68] E.g., see John 14:15-17, 23; 2 Timothy 3:14-17; 1 Peter 3:15.

[69] E.g., see Acts 17:10-12.

[70] Janosik, Fall 2020.

[71] 1 Peter 3:15.

[72] 1 Peter 3:15; see also E.g., Ephesians 4:1-3; Colossians 4:6; 2 Timothy 2:25.

[73] Janosik, Fall 2020.

[74] E.g., see 1 Corinthians 8:1; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; 2 Timothy 2:22.

[75] E.g., see Psalm 34:14; Romans 12:18; Romans 14:19; 1 Corinthians 7:15; 1 Corinthians 10:31-33; Hebrews 12:14.

[76] E.g., Hebrews 13:18; 1 Peter 2:12; 1 Peter 3:16-17.

[77] E.g., see Titus 2:7-8, 14; 1 Peter 3:13-14.

[78] Ephesians 6:10-18; see also e.g., Romans 13:12; 2 Corinthians 6:6-7; 1 Thessalonians 5:8.

[79] Ephesians 6:10; see also Acts 4:33; Ephesians 1:17-19; Ephesians 3:16; Philippians 4:13.

[80] Ephesians 6:12.

[81] Ephesians 6:13.

[82] Ephesians 6:14-18; see also Galatians 5:22-23.

[83] Ephesians 4:14.

[84] E.g., see 1 Peter 3:21-22.

[85] Janosik, Fall 2020.

[86] E.g., see Matthew 4:1-11.

[87] Janosik, Fall 2020.

[88] E.g., see Romans 1:3-4; 1 Corinthians 15:14.

[89] Janosik, Fall 2020.

[90] E.g., see Isaiah 40:8; Isaiah 55:11; Matthew 5:18; Mark 13:31; Luke 21:33.

[91] Janosik, Fall 2020.

[92] Romans 1:16-17.

[93] Acts 17:16-34.

[94] NIV Essentials Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2013).

[95] Taylor, Fall 2020.

[96] E.g., see Matthew 5:16; 1 Corinthians 10:31; 1 Peter 2:12.

[97] E.g., see 1 Corinthians 9:19-23; 1 Peter 3:8, 9-12.

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[i] This author relied upon ESV Study Bible and Zondervan NIV Study Bible for biblical cross references.