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BIG QUESTIONS ???Q1. TRUTH?
Isn’t Christianity just one of many religions that are
all equally valid? The Uniqueness of Jesus Christ!
1 JOHN 4:1-18
TRUTH CLAIMS
John 14:6 ‘Jesus answered. I am the way and
the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through me.’
Acts 4:12 – ‘Salvation is found in no one else, for
there is no other name under heaven given to
mankind by which we must be saved.’
OUR CULTURAL MOMENT
1.Religious Exclusivity leads to
violence and discrimination.
2.But don’t all religions lead to God?
3.We live in a Post-Truth culture.
1.Religious Exclusivity leads to
violence and discrimination.
Gwyneth Paltrow:‘I don’t believe
in religion. I believe in spirituality.
Religion is the cause of all the
problems in the world. I don’t
believe in organised religion at all.
It’s what separates people. One
religion just represents fragments,
it causes war. More people have
died because of religious conflict
than any other reason’
2. But don’t all religions lead to God?
Timothy Keller:
But how could you possibly know
that no religion can see the whole
truth unless you yourself have the
superior, comprehensive
knowledge of spiritual reality you
just claimed that none of religions
have?
3. We live in a Post-Truth culture.
The Oxford Dictionary defines
Post-Truth:
‘relating to or denoting
circumstances in which objective
facts are less influential in shaping
public opinion than appeals to
emotion and personal belief.’
Abdu Murray:
‘The post-truth mindset acknowledges
objective truth head-on, but subordinates
it to preferences. If the evidence fits our
preferences and opinions, then all is well
and good. If it doesn’t, then the evidence
is deemed inadmissible or offensive,
with offense being a solvent against
otherwise sound arguments.’
The Uniqueness of Christianity and
Jesus Christ
1. God’s Love is Open to all
2. God’s love is unique (Jesus Christ)
3. Jesus Christ brings true freedom
4. A hope-filled vision for now and eternity.
1. God’s Love is for all
The Exclusive claim of the gospel is
radically inclusive!
John 3:16 – ‘For God so loved the world
that he gave his one and only son, that
whoever believes in him shall not perish
but have eternal life.’
2.God’s love is unique (Jesus Christ)
Daniel Akin
‘Religion says ‘look inside
yourself for salvation’. The
gospel says, ‘the only hope
for salvation is outside of
yourself.’
3. Jesus Christ brings true freedom
John 8:31&32 To the
Jews who had believed
him, Jesus said, ‘If you
hold to my teaching, you
are really my disciples.
Then you will know the
truth, and the truth will
set you free.
Charles Wesley: And Can it Be
4. A hope-filled vision for now and eternity
4. A hope-filled vision for now and eternity
Romans 12:9-16
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be
devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the
Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share
with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice
with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony
with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with
people of low position. Do not be conceited.
4. A hope-filled vision for now and eternityRevelation 21:1-5
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”[a] for the first heaven and
the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I
saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from
God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I
heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place
is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his
people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will
wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[b] or
mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”
Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and
true.”
LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER
Q2. THE BIBLE: What is it? And how can I
trust a book that was written over 2000 years
ago? (2 Corinthians 4:1-6) 21 Oct 18