Defending the Truth.

Steve Gentry

[0:09] We’ll go ahead and have a seat. [0:11] Welcome to Village Church. [0:12] If this is your first time here, my name’s Steve. [0:13] I’m one of the pastors here at Village Church. [0:15] And as always, I am thankful and grateful to see each and every one of you. [0:19] If you have a Bible, open it to Isaiah chapter 44.

[0:22] We’re going to be starting in verse six this morning. [0:25] We’ll be in other texts as well. [0:27] We’re jumping back into our summer series in which we are casting vision [0:32] for what we want to be known for as a church. [0:36] Just to recap, the first three weeks of this series, [0:38] we covered worshiping Jesus, building faith, and equipping families.

[0:44] We want to be known for those things. [0:45] We strive to do those things. [0:48] Last Sunday, I asked Pastor Chris to preach that sermon [0:52] on the foolishness of unbelief in which he offered a defense of belief in God [0:58] and more specifically the gospel of Jesus Christ. [1:02] Any alternative to that is unreasonable.

[1:05] And that the belief in Jesus Christ is reasonable [1:08] because Christ is the creator of reason. [1:12] My hope is that you would receive that apologetic, [1:15] that you would see what a defense of the Christian faith looked like through that sermon [1:20] to kind of set us up for what I’m going to talk about today. [1:24] And I’m going to use his sermon as a jumping off point.

[1:27] Since you’ve already experienced a defense of the faith, [1:30] I’m not going to make a defense of the faith this morning. [1:32] Instead, I want to give an overhead view as to why what we did last Sunday is important. [1:38] Why it’s what we want to be known for as a church [1:42] that we want to be known for a church that strives to defend the truth.

[1:48] Apart from the God of Scripture, I want you to understand [1:52] there is no basis for truth.

[1:56] Apart from God, there is no basis for reason. [2:00] Apart from God, there is no basis for morality. [2:03] And the list can continue from there, but I think you get the point. [2:07] Followers of Christ, then, are witnesses to that truth [2:12] for the sake of the world around us. [2:16] And as a church, we must collectively

[2:19] defend the truth of God while also serving [2:23] to train others to defend the truth of God [2:28] on and on for the rest of the history of the world. [2:31] That is our responsibility. That must be our vision. [2:34] We are the only people that can do it. [2:37] So the different aspects of the vision of Village Church

[2:39] necessarily do build on each other. [2:43] Defending the truth, then, is necessary in worshiping Jesus, [2:47] is necessary in building faith, and it’s necessary [2:50] in equipping families. Because truth is the basis [2:55] for all of those things. And as we grow in each [2:59] of those other areas, we will grow in our understanding of,

[3:03] our ability to, and our courage in, defending the truth [3:07] to an unbelieving world all around us. And I think we’ve gotten [3:11] our place, we’ve gotten our situation in society to a place [3:15] in which defending the truth is something that the [3:19] Evangelical Church has become very lackadaisical in. [3:23] And instead of being the real arbiters of truth and soul

[3:27] and society, we have turned our plight into something as making [3:31] our truths palatable to the world around us, making our lifestyles [3:35] acceptable to the world around us, and making our stances [3:39] so that we do not lose ground in leisure [3:42] where society is concerned, because that would lead to [3:47] uncomfortable conversations. And of course, you know, the two things that you’re not supposed

[3:51] to talk about are religion and politics. But those are the only two things [3:55] I’ve literally ever talked about in my life.

[3:59] And so that’s all that I think the world exists for me to talk [4:03] to them about. Quite frankly, religion and politics [4:07] is a very helpful, satanic way [4:11] that the world has kind of put you in a place where you [4:15] won’t talk about truth, because that’s what that means. [4:19] Religion is the basis of everything. Politics is the application

[4:23] of religion to everything. And so to understand [4:27] the political mind as being one formed by secularization of the mind [4:31] is to believe the lie of hell and [4:35] to appease your cowardly mind from having to deal with [4:39] anything that actually matters in soul and society. [4:43] What we’re talking about this morning is essential to your life in following Jesus.

[4:47] It’s not optional. Too many people [4:51] see the work of apologetics as separate from the life of the [4:55] church, separate from discipleship, separate [4:58] from evangelism. So not everybody must do it, but what are you doing in [5:03] discipleship? Well, you’re growing in your knowledge of the truth, are you not? [5:07] What are you doing in evangelism other than getting others to believe what truth is?

[5:13] And so defending the truth is in every area [5:15] that the Christian life will engage in the world and in your personal [5:19] life especially. And so I put forward to you the idea that [5:23] every believer must engage in the vital task [5:27] of defending truth for three reasons. Obviously, it’s going to be [5:31] three reasons. Because God commands it, love compels

[5:36] us to it, and the next generation very much depends upon it. [5:40] Join me in Isaiah 44, maybe a unique verse [5:43] for our task this morning, but I think it’s helpful. [5:48] In Isaiah 44,6 the prophet writes, [5:51] Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts. [5:56] I am the first and I am the last.

[5:59] Besides me there is no God. Who is like me? [6:03] Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and set it before me. [6:07] Since I appointed an ancient people, let them declare [6:11] what is to come and what will happen. Fear not, nor [6:15] be afraid. Have I not told you from of old [6:19] and declare it? And you are my witnesses.

[6:23] Is there a God besides me? [6:27] There is no rock. I know not [6:31] any. That is an [6:35] example of prophecy and scripture ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, [6:39] but more than that, that is an example of the self-declaration, the [6:43] self-revelation of God. That is God making himself known.

[6:47] That he is there, that he is involved, that he is known, that he [6:51] can be known, that he wants to present himself, [6:54] that he speaks of the people of God as those who [6:58] have received the knowledge of God, those who are to defend the knowledge [7:02] of God, those who are to present the knowledge of God everywhere [7:06] they go as the basis for why they exist in the

[7:10] world in the first place. That is the mission for [7:14] which God has created and redeemed for himself a [7:18] people. And so yes, number one, God commands we defend truth. [7:22] Of course, as Pilate said, that begs the question, what [7:26] is truth? Well, truth, according to this, [7:32] is that he is God. He’s the first,

[7:34] he’s the last, there’s no other besides [7:38] him. And what that means is there is no [7:43] reality outside of the existence [7:46] of God. He is the foundation [7:50] for all reality. Why does two [7:55] plus two equal four? That’s actually a

[7:59] controversial question in our age.

[8:03] It equals four because God deemed it [8:07] so. Why is a triangle not a [8:11] square? Why is a circle not a rectangle? [8:16] Because God deemed it so. [8:19] Why can I take 800 milligrams of ibuprofen [8:23] and not 80,000 milligrams of ibuprofen?

[8:27] Because God deemed it so. [8:31] Some medical professionals in the room right now, well actually.

[8:36] Yeah, maybe I can take 80,000, but I’m not going to do it. [8:39] How many bottles is that?

[8:43] But everything functions in [8:47] a way that it functions in the world around you [8:51] because God deemed it so. He’s the foundation. [8:55] He’s the floor upon which you stand. [8:59] And so rather than viewing life through the lens of [9:03] well, maybe he’s there.

[9:07] You have to transform your thinking through the resurrection [9:11] to understand that if he is not there, [9:15] I would not be here. [9:19] Doug Wilson once wrote, I defend the existence of [9:22] God as the ground upon which I stand. I stand on it. [9:26] Why would I defend it? He is there.

[9:30] There are no convincing, nor are there compelling arguments [9:34] to be believed that should convince you [9:38] that God does not exist because very simply [9:42] he has made himself known through everything that is. [9:47] But here’s the problem that we have today. [9:51] Because he is there, what Isaiah 44 is basically saying is, is that the

[9:54] people of God are the stewards of God. [9:58] We’re the stewards of the glory of God. He is the rock [10:02] upon which we exist. The fact is, there is no bigger vision [10:06] than that. Therefore, it’s unthinkable [10:10] to seek to understand anything in existence apart from the truth [10:14] of God. And so my task is very large this morning because that is such a huge

[10:18] vision. But I think this text specifically is helpful [10:22] when considering how we defend the truth. [10:26] Many people don’t think to start with this approach of just [10:30] proclaiming the excellencies of him who is. [10:34] Proclaiming the glory of God in all that he says [10:38] that he is. For some reason we’ve convinced ourselves in this

[10:42] evidentialistic mindset that it is insufficient to treat [10:46] the revelation of God as though it is the revelation of God. [10:51] His self-disclosure is sufficient to talk about [10:54] his existence to anyone even if they do not believe he exists. [10:59] It’s unthinkable to talk about God [11:02] without using the words of God.

[11:06] But in our sin [11:09] we find the problem.

[11:14] See in Isaiah 44 we have God disclosing himself [11:18] and yet we say, yeah, [11:22] but that’s not enough.

[11:26] Why would that not be enough? Well it’s not enough [11:29] if you suppress reality. [11:32] You see the key in understanding the way that sin [11:36] kind of changes the mind is that when you talk about [11:40] it that way it’s unthinkable to think that we don’t have a source from which, a person [11:44] from which we come from, but in our sin what we actually

[11:48] need is for God to make himself known [11:52] or else we will never know him. Isaiah 44 presents God [11:56] as extremely personal. As a God who wants to talk [12:00] about himself, a God who wants to be known. It presents him as a God [12:04] who is gracious because he doesn’t have to make himself known, yet he [12:08] chooses to make himself known. And what does he say about himself? He says

[12:12] that he is Lord, he says that he is King, he presents himself as the [12:16] Redeemer, he says I’m the first and the last revelation, Jesus [12:20] says the Alpha and the Omega, beginning and the end. He says in Isaiah [12:24] 44 there is no God besides him, then he also reiterates, he says [12:28] there is no one like me in all of existence. [12:32] He says that he is appointed a people who exist, he says he is

[12:36] the only rock upon which reality stands, but then note also [12:41] in verse 8 [12:44] he states that he declares it. [12:49] He says I speak of my existence. [12:53] In other words there is no truth besides which [12:56] God has ordained exist.

[13:00] And so, if you are alive this morning [13:05] I was listening to a sermon by a preacher, [13:08] it was a little bit heretical so I’m not going to tell you his name, but I listen to everybody [13:12] so that I can know heresy. And he says, have you ever [13:16] thought about breathing? And the fact is you may have at [13:20] some point thought about breathing, but you don’t think about it as you

[13:24] do it. I don’t have to convince myself to breathe.

[13:29] I don’t like find myself 30 seconds later, oh no, I’ve been [13:32] forgetting to breathe. No, I have to actually make the decision [13:37] to hold my breath. I just breathe, my body [13:41] does it, I breathe in, I breathe out, and I exist. [13:44] And if I stop breathing in and breathing out very soon I will lose consciousness, and if I [13:48] don’t start after that, well then I will die. But have you ever

[13:52] considered the glory of just breathing? [13:57] The glory of the existence [14:00] of the way that air enters my body, [14:05] sustains my existence, keeps me going, [14:09] keeps me thriving, keeps me believing [14:12] every second of every day I have a presupposition

[14:17] that I don’t even think about, and that presupposition is [14:20] my brain communicates to my body, take it [14:24] in, get it out, and continue to do that [14:28] perpetually so that you will continue to exist. And have you ever [14:32] considered that if you didn’t think that up

[14:38] well someone else must have.

[14:42] You see the glory of God [14:44] is not just cosmological in scope. [14:48] It’s right here in front of me, in the way that I [14:52] exist, in the way that I function every single [14:55] day. But faith

[15:02] necessitates me being able [15:03] to communicate those realities to other people so that they can [15:08] join me in my quest to bring glory to God. [15:12] A few chapters earlier in Isaiah chapter 42 [15:15] Isaiah writing a prophecy of Jesus Christ [15:19] wrote this starting in verse 6, I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness,

[15:23] I will take you by the hand and keep you, I will give you as a covenant for the people [15:28] a light for the nations, to open the eyes [15:32] that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the [15:35] dungeon, from the prison, those who sit in [15:39] darkness. Now make no mistake, if you’ve never [15:43] gone from Isaiah 42 to Isaiah 53 you should because it’s all about

[15:47] Jesus Christ. It’s all a prophecy that is where [15:51] Israel fell short, Jesus Christ would bring the [15:55] covenant to completion and he would fulfill it himself. He’s saying [15:59] this knowable huge God calls a people [16:03] to righteousness and makes a covenant through his chosen savior. [16:07] Why? He tells us very specifically in verse 6

[16:11] to be a light for the nations. [16:16] He is a redeeming God and does not keep his [16:19] plan a secret. In Habakkuk 2, 14 [16:23] another prophecy, for the earth will be filled with what? [16:27] The knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the [16:31] waters cover the sea. I don’t know if you’ve ever looked at the sea, it’s quite extensive.

[16:38] You get to a place where [16:39] there’s enough water in front of you, you can’t see the other side. You stand on the east coast, you don’t [16:43] see England.

[16:47] And he’s saying there’s going to be a day where the knowledge of the glory of [16:51] God covers the earth as the seas are covered with [16:55] water. You see what all of this does [16:59] is it builds a case that God has designed the world [17:02] in every way to showcase who he is. [17:07] We defend the truth because God wants

[17:11] to be known and truth depends on God. [17:15] But then scripture lays out the story of God [17:19] making himself known and then ultimately bringing it [17:23] to this great crescendo in the person and work [17:27] of Jesus Christ.

[17:33] So why do we need to defend it if it just is? [17:35] Well because that is part of God’s plan to make himself known as well. [17:40] That he wants people to be the [17:44] vessels through which his truth travels. But there’s a great [17:48] lie that we defend truth from. Romans chapter 1 verse 18 [17:52] explains the problem. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against

[17:56] all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who by their unrighteousness do [18:00] what? Suppress the truth. Verse 19, [18:04] for what can be known about God is plain to them because God has shown it [18:08] to them. And that’s why whenever I’m talking to an atheist I don’t see to any ground that [18:12] anything they’re saying is reasonable because what does verse 19 say? [18:16] It starts out very simply. It says for what can be known about God is plain to them.

[18:22] And so I always try to calm people [18:24] down when they get themselves all worked up because they’re afraid they’re going to meet this PhD level [18:28] atheist who’s just going to throw them off the track and it’s just like well I need all of these [18:32] defenses of God. And I’m like well actually you just need to point at the world and [18:36] say look at all that. It didn’t just happen. That’s sufficient to me. [18:40] Because it exposes their tomfoolery. It just exposes them. They’re left completely bare

[18:44] in front of you because they have no explanation for why anything works [18:48] the way that it works. I was watching William Lane Craig defend the faith and he was defending [18:52] against a really brilliant atheist and this atheist was throwing scientific [18:56] argument and scientific argument and scientific argument. William Lane Craig just [19:00] looked at him and asked him one question. Well why does science work that way?

[19:06] Because science [19:08] can’t explain science.

[19:11] There’s no foundation upon which all of these truths [19:17] stand unless there’s a God [19:20] behind all of those truths. [19:24] But unbelievers suppress the truth. [19:27] They do nothing to make it go away. [19:32] Fact is scripture presents to us that when you love

[19:35] sin rather than God you seek to push the truth down. [19:40] Both pretending God can’t be known and [19:43] convincing yourself and anyone else you can drag to hell with [19:47] you of those lies. But what Isaiah 42 says [19:51] is that the gospel of Jesus redeems us. [19:54] And Romans chapter 1 says we deserve wrath

[19:58] but when you embrace the truth of God you can live [20:03] in the truth elevating them [20:06] rather than suppressing them.

[20:11] Jude 3 through 4 talked about Jude last [20:14] Sunday informs us that the lifestyle cultivated [20:18] by the type of change that Christianity brings to you

[20:24] necessitates that you contend [20:26] for the faith. It’s a pugilistic term that you fight for the faith. [20:31] He says beloved although I was very eager to write to you about our common [20:34] salvation I found it necessary to write appealing [20:38] to you to fight for the faith that was once for all delivered [20:42] to the saints. Why? Because certain

[20:46] people have crept in unnoticed. Liars [20:50] are so deceptive they’ll be in the room with you as though they are [20:54] one of you before they even open their mouths. Who long [20:58] ago were designated for this condemnation ungodly people [21:02] who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality. [21:06] Now I just want to make one comment there in passing and that is

[21:10] that all forms of atheism ultimately fall on some form [21:14] of perverted sexuality. The scripture [21:18] is very clear about this and I can tell you I’ve never seen a Christian [21:22] deconstruct his or her faith where there were not genitals [21:26] somewhere on the other side. Sexual [21:30] sin is a gateway to condemnation.

[21:37] Who pervert the grace of our God [21:38] into sensuality and deny our only master and lord [21:42] Jesus Christ. You see God commands us to contend for the [21:46] faith because we are the mouthpiece of his eternal glory to spread [21:50] the knowledge of God over the face of the earth. And so [21:54] since that is true, not if, since

[21:58] you cannot have a church [22:02] without having a vision for living out that purpose [22:06] as a community. To refuse, to contend [22:11] for the faith is [22:14] to disobey God. And so we do [22:18] not have an option to sit idly

[22:22] by as unbelievers suppress the [22:26] truth as though that is an [22:30] alternative that’s acceptable for those around us [22:34] to persist in. No, as the church we have an obligation [22:38] from the command of God to contend for the faith. Therefore [22:42] we must have a vision for how we are going to do it and we must have

[22:46] a pathway by which we train people to do it. [22:50] We must build a church that takes God’s [22:54] self-revelation in scripture to show the world [22:58] the absolute necessity of God in [23:02] everything and we must take seriously that no other worldview is [23:06] possible. Rationality and truth

[23:10] depend on God. And since that is true [23:13] we must be those who stand forward in the world because who else [23:18] is going to do it. That’s discipleship. But number two [23:22] it is because God commands it but it is also because love compels it. [23:27] Love compels us to defend truth.

[23:32] The gospel forms a love for [23:34] others that’s willing to confront them with the truth. I don’t know [23:38] if you’ve ever been a parent but you have to do some things that your kids don’t like. [23:43] You do. You have to feed them food they don’t like sometimes and [23:46] I don’t take part in that because I’ve never grown up on that. [23:50] But you must

[23:54] lead them down roads sometimes that they’re going to look at you and say that’s not fun.

[23:59] Well when you have the truth of God and you [24:02] are dealing with unbelievers all around you and you are defending the truth [24:06] the problem that some Christians have is you have a [24:10] really, just a really unhealthy expectation [24:14] it’s not based in reality. You expect everyone to thank you [24:18] for it. That’s just not the way defending the truth

[24:22] works. For some of you it’s unthinkable that you would [24:26] ever say something to someone that they would not say thank you for. [24:30] But love necessitates you to [24:33] defend the truth in a world where they are going to [24:38] call you unloving for doing the loving thing. [24:41] Why? Because they are suppressing the truth.

[24:46] And so you are going to be rejected [24:49] in some ways. In 1 Peter chapter 3 we just finished a series [24:53] through this book. Peter writes to a church that is suffering [24:58] because the world is rejecting them. He says,

[25:03] Always being prepared to make a defense [25:06] defending the truth to anyone who asks you for a reason [25:10] for the hope that is in you. Yeah, do it with gentleness and respect. [25:14] You see here’s the key. The world is rejecting them. [25:18] They’re suffering for their faith. They’re hurting for their faith. [25:21] They’re discouraged because of what’s happening because of their faith

[25:25] in the truth of God. And Peter looks at them and says, [25:28] as you suffer, understand that you need to be able to look at those [25:32] people and offer a defense of the faith [25:36] that you’re suffering for. Why? [25:41] Because you’re suffering in a hopeful way. [25:44] How can you suffer in a hopeful way? Because of objective truth.

[25:49] They did not have just some pie in the sky, [25:52] mystical, theoretical hope that God was going to deliver [25:57] them in the end. No, Peter is writing them because they have an objective [26:00] anchor of hope that they have tied their very lives to and in the [26:05] face of suffering when the enemy is in front of them [26:09] saying, how could you be so hopeful in the face of

[26:13] hopelessness that they would actually be able to give a reasonable [26:17] biblical defense of their faith in Jesus Christ? [26:21] And why would they do that? They do that so that their very persecutors [26:25] will repent of their sins and come to faith in Jesus Christ. Do you love the people [26:29] that will vilify you for your faith?

[26:33] Regardless of how they treat you in their faith, in your faith rather. [26:39] You see, friends, they could endure all this suffering [26:41] because Jesus rose from the dead and offered [26:45] them eternal life through faith that would transcend their physical [26:49] life. That’s the truth of God. They needed to [26:53] defend that truth even for their persecutors

[26:57] with the hope that they’ll repent. [27:01] You see, defending the truth transcends present circumstances so that [27:05] you can offer that truth to a world in denial and disbelief. [27:10] I talk a tremendous amount. [27:13] It’s part of what I do. I talk about the Bible. I talk about [27:17] the Gospel. I talk about defending the faith. I preach so many

[27:21] words every single Sunday and then throughout the week I also do this. [27:25] Talk to people about Jesus and I don’t know if you know this or not, but some people [27:29] think that that’s quite hateful. Because so much that the world [27:33] stands against, God has given pastors the responsibility to stand against as [27:37] they are against it. We’re against them. As some [27:41] people have bought into this paradigm that, oh, Christ isn’t against culture, He’s for

[27:45] the culture. But what you don’t understand is the fault in that paradigm is that [27:49] the truth of God must stand against culture, too, before culture [27:53] in so many ways. And so you can be [27:57] labeled a bigot. You can be labeled unloving.

[28:03] And in all of that, you must [28:05] look back and say, it’s all still true, [28:08] and if you don’t repent of your sin, you will fall under the very wrath of the God [28:13] that you don’t believe exists, yet you hate Him very much. [28:17] I can’t imagine the mental gymnastics [28:20] you must jump through to not believe in God and hate Him at the same time.

[28:25] Must be very difficult.

[28:28] But you see, Kevin DeYoung points out [28:32] that when we consider the mission of the church, [28:36] we must focus on our responsibility as a [28:40] people to prioritize proclaiming the [28:44] gospel of Jesus Christ, because that is what transforms lives. [28:50] And so when Peter is telling them, offer a defense

[28:52] of your hope, he’s saying the gospel [28:56] is so transformative that even [29:00] in the face of great hate from the world around you, [29:05] you still have love for them and [29:08] want them to turn from their sin and trust the gospel of Jesus Christ, [29:12] because that’s the love of Christ. That’s what you were redeemed from. You were

[29:16] an enemy of God. And Christ died for you [29:20] in your rebellion, so that you could [29:24] know His love that you didn’t deserve, and I think sometimes we forget that.

[29:30] Defending the truth is not [29:32] solely about being right. [29:36] And trust me, I like that part.

[29:40] It’s because [29:41] we’re compelled by the love of Christ to love our enemies.

[29:46] Those who would blaspheme Him, [29:49] or those who are in the greatest need of turning to Him. [29:54] Do you view the world through that lens? [29:58] I say, and we as a staff say, very hard [30:02] things about sin and sinners. [30:05] And every word of it is loving.

[30:10] Because they will not know they need to turn [30:13] from their sin if someone does not expose [30:17] the radical evil of their sin. [30:22] Remember, this is God’s self-revelation.

[30:27] So I believe that the greatest way [30:29] we can defend truth is to offer absolute truth, [30:33] and often the only way I know to do that is God’s word. [30:37] Do you want to become an expert apologist? [30:40] I hope so. Where should you start? [30:45] I will tell you, the first place you start is the Word of God, because it is the greatest

[30:50] way to defend the truth that exists. [30:53] It’s the Scriptures. I present Scripture to anyone, and I don’t care [30:57] that they refuse to accept it. You say, well I can’t use the Bible, they don’t believe the Bible. [31:01] Well, oh my goodness, well the Bible didn’t think about that, did it?

[31:06] Their disbelief is not your problem, it’s [31:09] their problem. The Word of God [31:13] is true, regardless of anyone’s [31:17] acceptance of it. There’s no other supernatural book in existence. [31:21] I’ve read a lot of them, and they’re very good, and they can be very helpful. I love reading.

[31:27] But never neglect the Word of [31:29] God. Never think that this is insufficient. [31:33] In Acts 17, 16, I think Paul gives us a great format for the [31:37] defense of the faith. He’s on Aropagus or Mars Hill, [31:41] and he’s in Greece, and Greece was a very philosophical society. [31:45] They created a whole bunch of false religions.

[31:49] And Paul engages these very intellectual people. It says, now while Paul was [31:53] waiting for them, for his friends in Athens, his, now he’s waiting because [31:57] he’d been kicked out of another city, his spirit was provoked within him [32:01] as he saw that the city was full of idols. He saw unbelief all [32:05] around him. When you wake up in the morning, do you not see unbelief all around you? [32:09] Do you not see what sin has done to our society

[32:13] all around you? So he reasoned [32:17] in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the [32:21] marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. [32:25] And I love Paul’s strategy. Paul starts with the religious folk.

[32:31] Paul goes to the synagogue, those [32:33] who already had a basis in theism, because he’s like, well we have a commonality. We do believe [32:37] there’s only one God, but here’s the problem. You guys are so dumb, you didn’t know he came. [32:43] Died on a cross, you fools. [32:46] So Paul was controversial in Jewish culture, [32:49] and then the devout persons. But then

[32:53] those third people was the marketplace. And that’s the people [32:57] who were filled with all the philosophies of the world, and then [33:01] he goes and he’s taken, because these people are like, good night, who’s this babbler? [33:05] That’s what they called him. That’s not a compliment, by the way. [33:10] Like, let’s give him a stage so we can listen to his babbling. [33:14] As they take him to the Oropagus, and Paul

[33:17] begins talking about all of the idols around [33:21] him, and he says, I see you’ve got one statue to the unknown God. [33:25] And I love how simple this is. Paul’s just like, you guys [33:29] need Jesus. You got this one false God, and he says to [33:33] the unknown God, because you’re afraid you forgot somebody. Well here’s some good news. [33:37] I know who you forgot. You forgot Jesus.

[33:41] That’s not a PhD level course, friends. That’s just keeping your eyes open.

[33:47] And he presents to them. [33:50] An understanding of the culture around him, which is vital. [33:54] But note where he lands in verse 30. [33:58] The times of ignorance God overlooked, but [34:01] now he commands all people everywhere to repent. [34:05] He lands on the truth of the Gospel

[34:09] of Jesus Christ and says, if you don’t get this right, [34:13] you’re in trouble. God doesn’t ask. He commands [34:18] that you turn from your sin and you trust [34:22] the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He gives them [34:26] the Gospel. Paul wanted the people in Athens [34:30] to reject the false gods of culture. He wanted them to repent

[34:34] of their sin, and he wanted them to believe the Gospel. And how did he do it? [34:38] Well, he used the revelation of God.

[34:43] You see, friends, we must be so discipled in truth [34:46] that at any moment we are prepared to present it to the world around us. [34:51] When Paul did this, he trusted God to use [34:54] it to accomplish his will. I mean, Paul had already [34:58] been threatened. He’d already been thrown out of city after city. And the end of [35:02] Acts 17 says some people believed. I love how realistic it is, because

[35:06] in modern vernacular, if everybody doesn’t believe, then you [35:10] failed, obviously. No, it’s very realistic. It says some people [35:14] believed, and some people thought Paul was a kook. [35:18] And some people were like, hey, let’s keep talking.

[35:22] And this is the Apostle Paul we’re talking about.

[35:26] But in other places, the Book of Acts is very clear. [35:30] He was rejected. He was beaten [35:34] multiple times. He was stoned and left for dead once. [35:39] He was imprisoned.

[35:43] One time, they literally picked him up [35:45] and carried him out of the city and said, don’t come back. [35:50] And on and on. And when I read the Book of Acts, I asked myself one question. [35:53] What am I so afraid of? If God endured Paul [35:57] through all of those things, can he not endure me as well?

[36:01] Friends, the world does not get to define truth. [36:05] The world does not get to define love. God has already done that for us. [36:09] Exposing lies and proclaiming truth is always loving [36:13] regardless of the reaction, because the Gospel is about God’s [36:17] truth and all that His truth implies. The world [36:21] needs defended truth.

[36:25] Too many Christians hold their beliefs without seeking to understand [36:29] or be educated in all of the implications as to how it affects [36:33] your life, your career, your family, and the culture around [36:37] you. So you reduce the truth to niceties about [36:41] Jesus, hoping to never offend, because that would cost too much. [36:47] We must be willing to be

[36:49] discipled in the whole Council of God from Scripture. [36:53] The good news is salvation through Jesus. [36:58] And all of Scripture helps us and the world around us [37:02] understand precisely what that means.

[37:05] I think our view of the Gospel is too small. [37:09] We must be prepared to stand [37:12] against culture. That is, our culture is determined [37:16] to embrace as a religion [37:20] deviant sexuality.

[37:23] That’s the religion of our day. And they would disciple [37:28] our children to only care about sex, money, [37:32] and popularity. We must engage [37:36] the world with the truth of Scripture boldly, [37:40] regardless of the consequences. Why? Because this is God’s world, and this is [37:44] God’s truth. And we must trust Him to endure us,

[37:48] and the world needs the bold commitment from Christians, [37:52] knowing and presenting truth, so that we [37:56] can see lives saved and society rebuilt on righteousness. [38:01] Ephesians 5-11 says, take no part in the unfruitful [38:04] work of darkness. But what? Expose them! [38:08] Don’t compromise with them. Don’t compromise for them.

[38:14] Don’t be tricked into [38:16] being weak in your faith. Don’t be tricked into saying, well, the [38:20] loving thing to do is to attend the gay wedding.

[38:24] No, the loving thing to do is say, I can’t, because I’m a Christian, and you [38:28] should be, too. We don’t compromise [38:32] on our ideals, because our ideals are rooted in truth.

[38:38] We don’t pacify those who would [38:40] pretend that gender is not set by God.

[38:46] We stand as those with a bold commitment [38:48] to the truth of God, because Jesus rose from the dead, so I’ll be okay [38:52] even if you kill me. In Philippians 1, [38:56] Paul wrote, Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others [39:00] from goodwill. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here [39:04] for what? For apologia, for the defense of the faith.

[39:08] Paul was in prison at this point, and he looks at him, he’s like, good night. [39:12] I’m not having a pity party here, kids. I’m in prison so that I can [39:16] defend the faith in prison.

[39:20] Everywhere he went, he said, I’m here for the purpose of the gospel. [39:25] Are you prepared for that? [39:28] Are you preparing for that? The world needs the church [39:32] prepared and preparing to love them with the truth. [39:37] But the third reason is that the next generation needs you to defend the truth.

[39:43] We have seen

[39:47] what a generation looks like whose parents did not take seriously their [39:52] defense of the truth. They abandoned the church.

[39:57] We must realize that age gaps [39:59] in the church is not [40:04] because pastors and youth pastors threw too many pizza parties. [40:08] It’s because pastors and youth pastors can’t undo [40:12] in an hour what you blow seven days a week.

[40:19] Parents did not [40:20] take seriously that they were raising [40:24] disciples of Jesus Christ. Build your life as a [40:29] defense of the truth. Look at what Paul writes about himself. He says, pray for me [40:33] that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly [40:36] to proclaim the mystery of the gospel for which I am an ambassador

[40:40] in chains. He’s in prison. That I may declare it boldly as I ought to [40:44] speak. Do you have that kind of faith? [40:48] That was Paul’s identity. That was his mission in life. [40:52] He wanted to defend the truth of the gospel. [40:56] Christians are followers of Christ.

[41:01] Elsewhere Paul said, follow me [41:04] as I follow Christ. Paul [41:08] did not have a vision that he was a super Christian.

[41:14] Paul looks at the church and he says, [41:16] everywhere I go, you should be willing to follow. [41:20] And he’s writing this text in chains.

[41:25] See friends, defending the faith leads to confronting [41:28] falsehoods in science and ethics [41:31] and in society all around us. But to accomplish that [41:36] you have to begin by building a Christian life [41:40] rather than just adding Christianity to the life you have [41:44] built without Jesus. For too long people

[41:48] have viewed the Christian faith as, well I’ve already got life, let me just [41:53] sprinkle Jesus Parmesan on top of it. [41:56] And the pastor just says, like you’re at Olive Garden, tell me when to stop.

[42:02] Which by the way I’m like, [42:04] the whole thing. Let’s not play [42:08] around.

[42:12] Christianity [42:13] is not on top of the dish, it’s the whole dish.

[42:17] I look around every Sunday and I thank God because I see a [42:21] church filled with families and I talk about family a lot and I know some of you [42:24] do not fit that category but I want you to understand that so many [42:28] families are in here. And we must realize that that is [42:33] a Christian thing. When we build lives on [42:37] truth we are prepared to defend truth and when we do that we prepare

[42:41] the next generation. Mothers and fathers growing [42:45] in their discipleship so their children can see what lives on [42:49] fire for the gospel look like. The children of [42:53] this church need us to defend the truth because we are passionately [42:57] building lives on top of the truth and to live otherwise [43:01] would be unthankable to the mothers and fathers of this church.

[43:05] Proverbs 22, 6 still says, [43:08] train up a child in the way he should go. Even when he is old he will not [43:12] depart from it. That is great wisdom from the book. [43:18] And for some reason, and here’s the key, I want to talk [43:20] to some of you gray hairs in here. You hate that verse.

[43:26] Because you think your life says [43:28] no they didn’t. [43:32] And look at you and say this is still true. Why have you given up hope [43:35] already? Are you dead? Are they dead?

[43:43] My experience [43:45] changes nothing but the truth of God’s word. [43:50] Romans, let God be true though what? [43:53] Every man a liar.

[43:57] Don’t believe the lies of the enemy. Truth [43:59] must be viewed as generational. 2 Timothy 3, [44:03] we love verse 16 but look at how we get to verse 16. But as for you, [44:08] continue in what you have learned and firmly believed [44:11] knowing from whom you learned it. And I love this because we think [44:15] oh there he’s going to say some great saint. A church father maybe?

[44:21] No. He’s from childhood. [44:23] You’ve been acquainted with the sacred writings. You know what he’s saying? [44:28] It happened in your home. The Christian home [44:32] is more important than any academic [44:36] room on the face of the earth. [44:40] Christians are built in living rooms

[44:44] and dining room tables friends.

[44:48] Which are able to make you wise for salvation through [44:52] faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is breathed out by God [44:55] profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, training and righteousness.

[45:02] Friends, what is your vision for [45:04] your kids?

[45:08] Is it for them to invest in eternity?

[45:12] Are your children prepared for a world that is [45:16] telling them Christianity is false?

[45:19] Are you more worried about [45:22] how much money your kids make or how faithful they are to the [45:26] gospel? Because I have pastored [45:30] a lot of moms and dads who would rather their kids deny the faith if that [45:34] would get them ahead in a fortune 500 company. They wouldn’t be honest about it [45:38] but everything they did every weekend sure showed that.

[45:45] Are your [45:46] children being prepared to defend [45:50] truth? Friends, [45:54] Doug Ruthuis writes that in our postmodern era too many [45:58] Christians are silent because they are uninformed and ignorant [46:02] of the faith they claim to have. You would be bolder

[46:06] if you could just commit. Build [46:10] your family for God’s future. Psalm 78, we will [46:14] not hide them from their children but tell to the coming generation [46:18] the glorious deeds of the Lord in his might and the wonders [46:23] that he has done.

[46:28] Just to close [46:30] one of my favorite defenders of the truth is a man named Greg Bonson. [46:35] He put it this way. He said we must [46:38] not be satisfied to present Christianity [46:41] as the most reliable position. [46:45] He says rather the Christian faith is the only

[46:50] reasonable outlook available to [46:53] men. Friends, we must have [46:57] that confidence. We must be faithful. [47:01] We must defend the truth because God [47:05] commands it, love compels it, and the next generation [47:09] very much depends upon it. Truth

[47:13] matters. A few application points. Worship [47:18] God by defending truth. It’s how he’s [47:21] worshipped. Defend truth [47:25] by learning it. It’s pretty hard to defend what you don’t know [47:29] about, isn’t it? But by God’s grace he’s given us a wealth [47:33] of knowledge in his word, a wealth of knowledge throughout history. Third,

[47:37] love others by engaging them with truth. [47:41] That is the loving posture. And then finally, [47:46] indoctrinate everyone around you with truth.

[47:50] And don’t back down from such a term. [47:54] That’s what we do. That’s what it means to [47:57] catechize someone. Have you heard of a catechism? It means indoctrinate.

[48:03] Tell people what to believe. [48:05] Because it’s not just reliable, Bonson says. [48:11] It’s the only reasonable [48:13] conclusion.