The Case for Truth

8/8/2019 The Case for Truth

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B uilding a B ridge to the Cross


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B uilding the rightkind of foundation


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12 Steps in Establishing the Case for Christianity1. Truth about reality is knowable.2. The opposite of true is false.3. It is true that the theistic God exists.4. If God exists then miracles are possible.5. Miracles can be used to confirm a message from God.6. The New Testament is historically reliable.7. The New Testament says Jesus claimed to be God.8. Jesus claim to be God was miraculously confirmed by:

a. His fulfillment of many prophecies about Himself;b. His sinless and miraculous life;c. His prediction and accomplishment of His resurrection

9. Therefore, Jesus is God.10. Whatever Jesus (who is God) teaches is true.11. Jesus taught that the B ible is the Word of God.12. Therefore, it is true that the B ible is the Word of God (and anything

opposed to it is false).

See Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics by Dr. Norman Geisler for more details, which can b e ordered at: www.normgeisler.com


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M emorizing an outline can help you

to know where to b egin with the personsto whom you are attempting to witness to.

A former students said:The main difficult y I had in appl y ing the

conversational approach in three encounterswas effectivel y linking one question or argument to the next to lead the person to aclear conclusion. I often felt somewhat

muddled in the conversation. I realize I need tofocus on understanding and remem b ering thelogical progression of points so that I can helpsomeone to see and understand them.


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A n Important Question To Consider

If it were possible for you to know thetruth about religious issues would you want to know it.


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Why understanding the issue of Truth is

important!If there is no such thing as objective truth,then you can believe contradictory things likeGod exists and God doesnt exist at the sametime and the same sense.

A s a result there is no way to carry on!meaningful dialog!

A s a result there is no way to do scientificinquiry!


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GETTING THE B IG PICTURE!


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In Him all things hold

together. . Col. 1:17Col. 1:17

I came that they might have life,and might have it abundantly. Jn.10:10


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Jesus said:

You shall know the truth, and the truth shall makeyou free.

John 8:32

1. Truth about reality is knowable


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W hat is Truth?Truth:

Corresponds to its object.

Corresponds to reality.Is telling it like it is.

A ccurately expresses anactual state of affairs.


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A true statement matches its object

T his object is a picture of a table.


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1 . All truth claims are a b solute, narrowand exclusive. (Even the claimtruth is not narrow is narrow andexcludes its opposite!)

T he T ruth About T ruth


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Truth is Narrow2 + 2 = 4

W here do you put food into your body? Your mouth you say? W hy so narrow-minded?

M att 7:13 14"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is

the gate and broad is the road that leads todestruction, and many enter through it.14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.


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It Is Not Just Christian Truth that is NarrowViews of Salvation

C hristianit y by faith alone in C hrist alone

Islam by b elief in Allah, his prophetM uhammad, and good works

Hinduism by overcoming karma andincarnations with good works

Buddhism by cessation of desire througheight-fold path

All Truth Is Narrow


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2 . Truth is discovered, not invented.It exists independent of an yonesknowledge of it.

* Gravit y existed prior to Newton



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3 . Beliefs cannot change a fact, no matter how sincerel y the y are held.

I can sincerel y b elieve the world is flatb ut that onl y makes me sincerel y mistaken.


4 . Truth is trans-cultural ( 2+2=4 here,there, and ever ywhere).


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5 . Being raised in a given culturedoesnt make the b eliefs of thatculture true.


* Our culture does not determine if somethingis true

* Becoming a Nazi while living in Nazi German y

doesnt make Nazism true.


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6 . It is not determined by onessincerit y

* I ma y b e sincere b ut sincerel y wrong!

J esus replied, "You are in error becauseyou do not know the Scriptures or the

power of God. ( M att 22 :29 )



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7 . Just b ecause I ma y have difficult y finding the truth doesnt mean that itdoesnt exist at all.

* Just because people may disagree aboutwhether a particular action is right or wrong, it doesnt mean necessarily that

there are no right or wrongs actionsanywhere in the universe?



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D ifferent AccountsJust b ecause people tell different accounts of what happened inan auto accident, doesnt mean there is no truth to b e discovered!


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Summary of Truth on Truth

1 . Truth is narrow2 . Truth is discovered3 . Beliefs cannot change a fact4 . Truth is trans-cultural5 . Our culture does not determine truth6 . Truth is not determined by ones sincerit y7 . Just b ecause I ma y have trou b le finding the truth

does not mean it does not exist at all


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1. Truth about reality is knowable.* Truth is that which corresponds to its object.* The truth about truth

* We can know reality. This is undeniable .

Twelve Points that Show

Christianity is True

Undeniability implies that one can not deny

something (Like saying there are no absolutes)without affirming it in the process of denying it.


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Objective Truth is Undeniable

Ex ample: Winnie the Pooh


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1. Truth about reality is knowable.

2 . The opposite of true is false.

Twelve Points that Show Christianity is True

A . The law of non-contradiction affirms thatopposites cannot be both true.


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O pposite ideas cannot both be trueat the same time and in the same sense.

T he Law of Non-Contradiction

Helps Us Discover T ruth

The Earth isRound

The Earth isNOT Round


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1. Truth about reality is knowable.2. The opposite of true is false.


A . The law of non-contradiction affirms that opposites cannotbe both true.

B. The law of non-contradiction isundenia b le. Even those who den y ituse it.


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S ure-Fire Way to Convince a Sk eptic!

Anyone who denies the law of non-contradiction should be beaten and burned

until he admits that to be beaten is not thesame as not to be beaten, and to be burned is

not the same as not to be burned.

(Avicenna, Great Muslim Philosopher)


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C hristianityJudaism

Islam

A theism,TheravadaB uddhism

Polytheism,MahayanaB uddhism

One God No God Many gods

Opposite ideas can not true at the same time in the same sense


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1. Truth about reality is knowable.2. The opposite of true is false.


A . The law of non-contradiction affirms that opposites cannot be bothtrue.

B . The law of non-contradiction is undeniable. Even those who deny

it use it.

C . Therefore, the opposite of true is false.


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Obj ections to O bj ective Truth

1 . There is no such thing as truth!2 . You cant know truth!3 . All truth is relative!4 . Its true for you b ut not for me!5 . No one has the truth!6 . All truth depends on your perspective!


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Apply the claim to itself!

Your Greatest T ool in Answering False Claims:

F or Example. . .


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Apply the claim to itself!

F or Example. . .

1 . There is no such thing as truth!


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Obj ections to O bj ective Truth

Is that statement true?

There is no such thing as truth! You cant know truth!All truth is relative!Its true for you b ut not for me!

No one has the truth!All truth depends on your perspective!


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Summary of Truth

1 . Truth a b out realit y is knowa b le2 . Truth is that which corresponds with its o bj ect3 . Truth is narrow4 . Truth is discovered5 . Beliefs cannot change a fact6 . Truth is trans-cultural7 . Our culture does not determine truth8. Truth is not determined by ones sincerit y9 . Truth is undenia b le10 . Truth is non-contradictor y


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You shall know the Truth, and the Truth shallmake you free. Jn. 8:32 (N. A .S. B .). Jn. 8:32 (N. A .S. B .)


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Establishing the Case For Christianity

The Case for Truth Sessions 12 (12 of 19)

www.meeknessandtruth.org

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The Case for Truth