3rd Proof for God: Morality (The Moral Argument)

—  Introduction to Apologetics

Instructor: Mike Kozlinski

—  Class Objectives

—  Class Preliminaries

—  Class outlines posted www.xanga.com/MikeKoz10

—  Email questions to
MikeKoz10@hotmail.com

—  Prayer sheet

—  Include spiritual items

—  Include apologetic opportunities

—  Let me know if I speak too quickly

—  Class Objectives

—  Spiritual formation

—  Learn, explain and defend basic reasons why Christianity is true

—  Provide framework for future study

—  Class Progression

—  Proving Christianity True

—  1) Truth about reality is knowable

—  2) The theistic God exists

—  3) Miracles are used to prove the truthfulness of the message and the messenger

—  Proving Christianity True

—  4) The New Testament is historically accurate

—  5) In the NT, Jesus claimed to be God and proved it.

—  6) Jesus taught that the Bible is the Word of God.

—  Revised Class Progression

—  Proving Christianity True

—  1) Truth about reality is knowable

—  2) The theistic God exists

—  3) Miracles are used to prove the truthfulness of the message and the messenger (handouts)

—  Proving Christianity True

—  4) The New Testament is historically accurate (handouts)

—  5) In the NT, Jesus claimed to be God and proved it

—  6) Jesus taught that the Bible is the Word of God (hand outs)

—  Final Three Classes

—  Proving Christianity True

—  1) Moral Argument for God’s Existence

—  2) Messianic Prophesy

—  3) The Resurrection and Final Thoughts

—  Introduction to Apologetics

—  Class 6 – Design

—  Conclusion and Review to be sent out via email or given via handout

—  Anthropic Princple Follow Up

—  Does the Anthropic Principle beg the question?

—  Requirements in world

—  Requirement out of world

—  No other known forms of life anywhere else

—  Can the teleological argument be considered a proof?

—  Not definitive but HIGHLY Probable

—  Criminal vs Civil Case

—  Introduction to Apologetics

—  Class 7 – Morality

—  Step 2: The Theistic God Exists

—  1) Worldview Overview

—  2) Proof – Creation

—  3) Proof – Design

—  4) Proof – Morality

—  5) Natural Law

—  Proof 3: Moral Argument

—  The Moral Argument

1) Every law has a lawgiver.

2) There is a moral law.

3) Therefore, there is a Moral Law Giver.

—  What is the Moral Law?

The Moral Law is…

—  Right for all

—  Absolute

—  Objective

—  Universal

—  Transcendent

—  Known to all (core)

—  Can’t Not Know

—  Self-evident/Intuitive

—  Not Always Felt

—  Suppressed by unrepentant

—  What the Moral Law Is Not

—  Dependent on Societal Laws

—  Slavery used to be legal

—  Relative to Cultural Teachings

—  Male children preferred

—  Relative to Cultural Doings

—  Widow Burning

—  Relative to Individual Belief

—  Rape always wrong

—  The Result of Evolution

—  Would only explain why we think its wrong

—  Instinct

—  Would not be able to violate it

—  Wrong would

—  The Importance of the Moral Law

—  Basis for Human Rights

—  Basis for Daily Living

—  Basis of Individual Charity (ABCCM)

—  Basis for Political Reform Within(Slavery/Abortion)

—  Basis for International Justice (Nuremburg)

—  Confusions About the Moral Law

—  Changing Behavior

—  Behavior tells what is done.  Morality tells what ought be done

—  Changing Perceptions

—  That Hitler taught that Jews were not human did not change that they were

—  Application to Particular Situations

—  Medical Triage

—  Varied Cultural Expressions

—  Driving on left or right side of road

—  Moral Disagreements

—  People argue their position on the basis of Morality (Pro-Life vs Pro-Choice)

—  Varied Methods

—  What is best way to achieve moral end?

—  Demonstrating the Moral Law

—  Seen in Reactions

—  People get mad when they are treated immorally

—  Seen in Judgments Made

—  Even judgment to not be judgmental

—  Seen in Moral Dilemmas

—  Without real morality, there’d be no dilemma

—  Seen in Rationalizations

—  Homage paid to guilty knowledge

—  Ask Good Questions

—  Dissipate Smoke

—  Call Attention to the Obvious

—  Connect the Dots

—  Release the Catch

—  Play Back the Tape

—  Tighten the Noose

—  Call the Bluff

—  For Next Week

—  Read thru Chapter 7

—  Will cover Morality and Natural Law next week

—  Pray the prayer list

—  Books/websites will be put on attachment that will go out with emails

2nd Proof for God - Design (Teleological Argument)

—  Introduction to Apologetics

—  Instructor: Mike Kozlinski

—  Class Objectives

—  Class Preliminaries

—  Class outlines posted www.xanga.com/MikeKoz10

—  Email questions to
MikeKoz10@hotmail.com

—  Prayer sheet

—  Include spiritual items

—  Include apologetic opportunities

—  Let me know if I speak too quickly

—  Class Objectives

—  Spiritual formation

—  Learn, explain and defend basic reasons why Christianity is true

—  Provide framework for future study

—  Class Progression

—  Proving Christianity True

—  1) Truth about reality is knowable

—  2) The theistic God exists

—  3) Miracles are used to prove the truthfulness of the message and the messenger

—  Proving Christianity True

—  4) The New Testament is historically accurate

—  5) In the NT, Jesus claimed to be God and proved it.

—  6) Jesus taught that the Bible is the Word of God.

—  Introduction to Apologetics

—  Class 4 Review (and

—  Continuation)

—  Step 2: The Theistic God Exists

—  1) Worldview Overview

—  2) Proof – Creation

—  3) Proof – Design

—  4) Proof – Morality

—  5) Natural Law

—  Proof 1: Creation (Cosmological)

—  1) Everything that has a beginning (contingent being) has a cause.

—  2) The universe had a beginning.

—  3) Therefore, the universe had a cause.

—  Introduction to Apologetics

—  Lesson 6: Proofs for God

—  Part 2 - Design

—  Step 2: The Theistic God Exists

—  1) Worldview Overview

—  2) Proof – Creation

—  3) Proof – Design

—  4) Proof – Morality

—  5) Natural Law

—  Proof 2: Design (Teleological)

—  Every Design had a designer.

—  The universe has highly complex design.

—  Therefore, the universe had a Designer.

—  Proof 2 – Design (Teleological)

—  Proof 2: Design (Teleological)

—  Macro Design

—  The Universe Itself

—  Anthropic Principle

—  Chapter 4 in book

—  Take Handout

—  Micro Design

—  Particular Cases

—  Debate between Evolution and “Intelligent Design”

—  Evolution Clarifications

—  3 Major Events:

—  1) Universe Begins

—  2) First Life Begins

—  3) Human Life Begins

—  Macro  vs Micro

—  Macro-Evolution deals with the progression for #2 to #3, from first “simple” life to “complex” human life

—  Does not explain #1

—  Does not explain #2

—  Evolution Clarifications

—  Why is it called “Creation vs  Evolution”?

—  Technically, God could have used evolution to bring about human life

—  Its not about science, its about God

—  Its philosophical/spiritual not scientific

—  That’s why ID-ers are not just called wrong, but evil

—  That’s why they are persecuted and maligned

—  Problems with Macro Evolution

—  Genetic Limits

—  Fruit flies stay fruit flies

—  Cyclical Change

—  Micro is not linear

—  Irreducible Complexity

—  Bacterial Flagellum

—  “Simple” things like the cell and DNA are complex

—  Nonviable Transition Forms

—  Plus, none in fossil record

—  Molecular Isolation

—  Same ancestor or Creator?

—  Defending Intelligent Design

—  Objections

—  ID is not science

—  Empirical vs Forensic

—  Reveals anti-God bias

—  Naturalism vs Theism

—  ID is “God of the gaps”

—  Just following the evidence

—  Wrong to not consider all possibilities

—  Objections

—  ID-ers are Religious Folk

—  Doesn’t matter if they are

—  Design is not perfect

—  Can still be designed

—  May reveal flaw in our understanding, not design

—  Implies standard by which to compare

—  Application

—  If God designed the universe, what is our response to that?

—  If God designed the way our world works, what is our response to that?

—  If God designed us, what is our response to that?

—  For Next Week

—  Read thru Chapter 7

—  Will cover Morality and Natural Law next week

—  Pray the prayer list

—  Books/websites will be put on attachment that will go out with emails

1st Proof for God: Creation (Cosmological Argument)

—  Introduction to Apologetics

—  Instructor: Mike Kozlinski

—  Class Objectives

—  Class Preliminaries

—  Class outlines posted www.xanga.com/MikeKoz10

—  Email questions to
MikeKoz10@hotmail.com

—  Prayer sheet

—  Include spiritual items

—  Include apologetic opportunities

—  Let me know if I speak too quickly

—  Class Objectives

—  Spiritual formation

—  Learn, explain and defend basic reasons why Christianity is true

—  Provide framework for future study

—  Class Progression

—  Proving Christianity True

—  1) Truth about reality is knowable

—  2) The theistic God exists

—  3) Miracles are used to prove the truthfulness of the message and the messenger

—  Proving Christianity True

—  4) The New Testament is historically accurate

—  5) In the NT, Jesus claimed to be God and proved it.

—  6) Jesus taught that the Bible is the Word of God.

—  Step 1: Truth About Reality is Knowable

—  Truth is Reality

—  A true statement corresponds  to reality

—  Correspondence

—  Tells it like it is

—  Truth Project slogan

—  Truth is

—  Absolute

—  Objective

—  Universal

—  Unchanging

—  Discovered (ie. not invented)

—  Step 2: The Theistic God Exists

—  1) Worldview Overview

—  2) Proof – Creation

—  3) Proof – Design

—  4) Proof – Morality

—  5) Natural Law

—  Introduction to Apologetics

—  Class 4 Review

—  Worldview Overview Continued

—  Atheism

—  Pantheism

—  Introduction to Apologetics

—  Lesson 5: Proofs for God

—  Part 1 - Creation

—  Proof 1: Creation (Cosmological)

—  1) Everything that has a beginning (contingent being) has a cause.

—  2) The universe had a beginning.

—  3) Therefore, the universe had a cause.

—  Proof 1: Creation (Cosmological)

—  Scientific Reasons

—  S – Second Law of Thermodynamics

—  U – Universe is Expanding

—  R – Radiation from the Big Bang

—  G – Great Galaxy Seeds (ripples in background)

—  E – Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity

—  Proof 1: Creation (Cosmological)

—  Philosophical Reasons

—  Infinite Regress

—  Time must have a beginning

—  Otherwise it would go backwards into infinity

—  If time went backwards into infinity, we would never get to today

—  But today is here

—  Objections

—  Scientific

—  Cosmic Rebound Theory

—  Suggests that universe has an everlasting series of bangs and crunches

—  Imaginary Time

—  Theoretical construct of time before time

—  Uncertainty

—  Quantum Physics

—  Don’t Know

—  But we’ll found out

—  Responses

—  Cosmic Rebound Theory

—  Expansion is accelerating

—  S of SURGE

—  Infinite Regress

—  Imaginary Time

—  Made up to avoid actual beginning of universe

—  Uncertainty

—  Only theoretical

—  Undermines science

—  Won’t Admit

—  Objections

—  Philosophical

—  Who Made God?

—  If all things need a cause, then God needs a cause.

—  Response

—  God is Uncaused Cause

—  God is Unmade Maker

—  God is Uncreated Creator

—  Only beings that have a beginning are caused

—  God is Necessary Being

—  Only contingent beings need cause

—  Why is there something rather than nothing?

—  Proof 1: Creation (Cosmological)

—  Universe

—  Material/Physical

—  Temporal (Time)

—  Finite in nature

—  Finite in power

—  In Space

—  Thing

—  Caused (Once was not)

—  Contingent (Can not be)

—  Sustained (held in existence)

—  Creator

—  Immaterial

—  Eternal

—  Infinite in nature

—  Infinite in power

—  Transcends Space

—  Personal (mind/will)

—  Uncaused (Always existed)

—  Necessary (Must exist)

—  Sustainer (holds in existence)

—  Application

—  If God is…

—  Immaterial

—  Eternal

—  Infinite in nature

—  Infinite in power

—  Transcends Space

—  Personal (mind/will)

—  Uncaused (Always existed)

—  Necessary (Must exist)

—  Sustainer

—  Then what does that do to my relationship with:

—  God

—  Family

—  Friends

—  Work folk

—  Other Christians

—  Non-Christians

—  Obligations

—  Responsibilities

—  Leisure Time

—  For Next Week

—  Read thru Chapter 6

—  Will cover Design and Evolution next week

—  Pray the prayer list

—  Books/websites will be put on attachment that will go out with emails

Truth Part 2

Introduction to Apologetics
Lesson 3 – Truth Part 2

I.              Introduction to Apologetics

a.     Class 2 Review

                                          i.    Class Preliminaries

1.     Class outlines posted www.xanga.com/MikeKoz10

2.     Email questions to MikeKoz10@hotmail.com

3.     Prayer sheet

a.     Include spiritual items

b.    Include apologetic opportunities

4.     Let me know if I speak too quickly

b.    Class Objectives

                                          i.    Spiritual formation

                                         ii.    Learn, explain and defend basic reasons why Christianity is true

                                        iii.    Provide framework for future study

                                        iv.    Why Do Apologetics

                                         v.    Biblical Heroes Role Modeled It

1.     Moses

a.     To Israelites

b.    To Pharaoh

c.     To Miriam/Aaron

2.     Jesus  

a.     To John the Baptist’s disciplines

b.    To scribes

c.     To whole World

c.     What is Truth?

                                          i.    What Works or is Pragmatic

1.     Answered Prayer

2.     Unanswered Prayer

                                         ii.    What is Intended or Sincerity

1.     Honest belief

2.     Honest error

                                        iii.    What Matters or is Relevance

1.     Faith applies

2.     Can misapply

                                        iv.    What feels good or Subjectivism

1.     Spiritual highs are good

2.     Sins can feel good too

d.    Truth and Life

                                          i.    Relationships

1.     Spouses

2.     Children

3.     Friends/Church Family

4.     Vs Pragmatism

                                         ii.    Society

1.     Government and Schools

2.     Lawyers/Judges/Juries

3.     News Media

4.     Vs Sincerity

                                        iii.    Money

1.     Employers/Employees

2.     Banks

3.     Salesmen

4.     Vs Relevance

                                        iv.    Health

1.     Doctors

2.     Medicine

3.     Road signs/Food Labels

4.     Vs  Feelings

II.             Lesson 3: Truth Part 2

a.     What is Truth?

                                          i.    Truth is Reality

                                         ii.    A true statement corresponds  to reality

                                        iii.    Correspondence

                                        iv.    Tells it like it is

                                         v.    Truth Project slogan

b.    Truth is

                                          i.    Absolute

                                         ii.    Objective

                                        iii.    Universal

                                        iv.    Unchanging

                                         v.    Discovered (ie. not invented)

c.     Truth and the Bible

                                          i.    Argument from God

1.     His Word is true (Ps. 33:4)

2.     Jesus is truth (Jn. 14:6)

3.     Holy Spirit is truth (15:26)

4.     Satan is “father of lies”

                                         ii.    Argument from Creation

1.     God made everything

2.     Evil, not made, is parasite on good

3.     Logic tangent

                                        iii.    Argument from Bible

1.     Bible assumes it

2.     All men held accountable

d.    Truth and Salvation

                                          i.    John 14:6 Jesus is Truth and the way to the Father

                                         ii.    Truth and Worship

1.     John 4:24 – Worship in spirit and in truth

                                        iii.    Truth and God’s Word

1.     John 17:17b – The Father’s  word is truth.

                                        iv.    Truth and Sanctification

1.     John 17:17a – Set them apart in the truth; 

                                         v.    Truth and Love

1.     1 Cor. 13:6 - Love rejoices in the truth.

                                        vi.    Truth and Freedom

1.     John 8:32 - Truth sets us free

e.     Defending Truth

                                          i.    Self-Defeating Statements Cannot Be True

1.     I do not exist.

2.     I do not speak in the first person.

3.     I do not speak English.

4.     I speak only in negatives.

5.     I only tell lies.

                                         ii.    Knowledge

1.     Relativism

2.     Pluralism

                                        iii.    Morality

1.     Arrogant or Humble?

2.     (In)Tolerant?

                                        iv.    Theology

1.     Personal or Propositional?

III.            Defending Truth

IV.           Part 1: Knowledge

a.     "There is no such thing as truth"

                                          i.    “Is that true?”

b.    "There are no absolutes."

                                          i.     “Is that absolutely true?”

c.     "Truth is relative."

                                          i.    “Is that a relative truth?”

d.    "That's true for you but not true for me."

                                          i.    “Is that statement true just for you or for everyone?”

e.     "Everyone has their own perspective."

                                          i.    “Is that just your perspective or are you speaking for everyone?”

f.     "Everyone has their own  interpretation."

                                          i.    “Is that just your interpretation or are you speaking for everyone?”

V.            Part 2: Morality

a.     "To say you have the truth is arrogant"

                                          i.    “Is that true?  Doesn’t that mean that you are arrogant?”

b.    "It is intolerant to say that you are right and others are wrong."

                                          i.     “Do you think you’re right and I’m wrong?  Isn’t that intolerant?”

c.     "Intolerance will not be tolerated."

                                          i.    “Is that tolerant?”

VI.           Part 3:  Theological

a.     "Truth is personal, not propositional (ie. not found in words and sentences)."

                                          i.    “Is that true?  Didn’t you just express that truth in words and a sentence?”

VII.          Application

a.     Truth is

                                          i.    Absolute

                                         ii.    Objective

                                        iii.    Universal

                                        iv.    Unchanging

                                         v.    Discovered (ie. not invented)

b.    Relationship with God

                                          i.    Worship

                                         ii.    Theology/Doctrine

                                        iii.    Bible Study

                                        iv.    Relationship with Others

                                         v.    Fellowship

                                        vi.    Discipleship

                                       vii.    Accountability

                                      viii.    Evangelism

c.     How can we live as Christians in truth?

                                          i.    Family

                                         ii.    As spouse

                                        iii.    As parent

                                        iv.    As child

                                         v.    As sibling

                                        vi.    Work

                                       vii.    As boss

                                      viii.    As employee

                                        ix.    As colleague

d.    Miscellaneous

                                          i.    Finances

                                         ii.    Citizenship/Politics

                                        iii.    Managing Stress

                                        iv.    Friendships

                                         v.    Attitude

                                        vi.    Recreation

1.     In what we do

2.     In how we do it

Introduction to Apologetics: Lesson 2 - Truth

Continued from Lesson 1

                                          i.    Spiritual Development/Discipleship

1.     Creation, Fall, Salvation, Sanctification, Glorification

a.     Rom. 1-8

b.    Rom. 12:1-2 – be transformed by the renewing of your mind

c.     Rom:12-16

2.     Apologetics Required for Church Leadership

a.     1 Tim. 3:2 – able to teach

b.    1 Tim. 4:6 – follow sound doctrine

c.     2 Tim. 1:13 – retain the standard of sound words

d.    2. Tim 2:25 – correct those in opposition

e.     Titus 1:9 – hold fast to the faithful word, exhort in sound doctrine, refute those who contradict it

b.    Biblical Reasons

                                          i.    Biblical Heroes Role Modeled It

1.     Moses

a.     Proved his calling to the Israelites by telling them God’s name, making his staff a snake and back again, and by making his hand leprous and then well again (Exodus 3)

b.    Proved that Israel’s God was with him and that He was superior to Pharaoh and the Egyptian Gods through the giving or miracles (Ex. 5-14)

c.     Proved his superior calling to Miriam and Aaron through turning Miriam leprous and then healing her (Num. 12)

2.     Elijah proved he was true prophet of true God over the false prophets of false god Baal (1 Kings 18)

3.     Isaiah announces that God is true and not idols through prophesy (Isa. 41:21-26)

4.     Luke

a.     (Luke 1:1-4) investigated so we would know the exact truth

b.    Acts 1:3 – Jesus presented Himself alive by many convincing proofs

5.     Paul

a.     Paul understood as his calling defending and confirming the gospel (Phil. 1:7-11)

b.    To the Jews, Paul reasoned from the Scriptures (Acts 17:1-3)

c.     To the pagans, Paul appealed to their religious impulses (Acts 17:16-34)

d.    In his epistles to the church, he repeatedly urged them to hold to sound doctrine

6.     Peter

a.     Instructs that we are to be ready to give the reason for the hope that is within us (1 Peter 3:15)

b.    Expresses that their testimony is not fictional since they witnessed Jesus’ majesty

                                         ii.    Trinity Role Modeled It

1.     God the Father

a.     Proves His existence through Creation (Rom. 1:20)

b.    Proves His existence through provision of needs (Rom. 14:17)

c.     Proves His existence through conscience (Rom. 2:14-16)

2.     Jesus

a.     Proved His identity to John the Baptist’s disciples by pointing to his miracle and preaching (Matt. 11:4-5)

b.    Proved His authority to forgive sins to scribes by healing paralytic (Mark 2:10-11)

c.     Proved His identity as Messiah by dying on the cross and resurrecting from the dead (Isa. 53)

3.     God the Holy Spirit proves His existence by convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 17:16-11)

c.     Application

                                          i.    Our most recent Sunday School class was a study on “If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat”

1.     If Christianity isn’t true, then we should never ever get out of the boat

2.     Jesus tells us in Matt. 6:25-7:34 that we should seek first for the Kingdom of God

II.            Class 1 Review

a.     Class Preliminaries

                                          i.    Class outlines posted www.xanga.com/MikeKoz10

                                         ii.    Email questions to
MikeKoz10@hotmail.com

                                        iii.    Prayer sheet

1.     Include spiritual items

2.     Include apologetic opportunities

                                        iv.    Let me know if I speak too quickly

b.    Class Objectives

                                          i.    Spiritual formation

                                         ii.    Learn, explain and defend basic reasons why Christianity is true

                                        iii.    Provide framework for future study

1.     Truth Decay by Douglass Groothuis

2.     Is Your Church Ready?  Edited by Norm Geisler and Ravi Zacharias

c.     Why Do Apologetics?

                                          i.    Theological Reasons

1.     Worship God

2.     Purity in Doctrine

3.     Evangelism

4.     Engaging the Culture

5.     Spiritual Formation

6.     Why Do Apologetics

                                         ii.    Biblical Reasons

1.     Biblical Heroes Role Modeled It

2.     God Role Modeled It

III.           Class 2: Truth

a.     What is Truth?

                                          i.    What works?

1.     Pragmatism

2.     I prayed and God answered my prayer.

                                         ii.    What I intended?

1.     Sincerity

2.     I honestly believe that Jesus is the Son of God

                                        iii.    What matters to me?

1.     Existentialism or Relevance

2.     I’d be lost without my Bible

                                        iv.    What feels good?

1.     Subjectivism

2.     I just feel so wonderful when I sing praises to God

                                         v.    What is Truth?

1.     Problem with Pragmatism

2.     Sometimes lying works

3.     Finding relief in drugs (or any idol)

                                        vi.    Problem with Your Intentions/Sincerity

1.     Can be sincerely wrong

2.     Can overstate our level of sincerity

                                       vii.    Problem with Relevance

1.     What matters may come from sinfulness

2.     Universalism

                                      viii.    Problem with Feelings

1.     Atheism can give feelings of liberation

2.     Ravi question about God not existing

b.    What is Truth?

                                          i.    Truth is Reality - A true statement corresponds  to reality

                                         ii.    Correspondence

                                        iii.    Tells it like it is

c.     Truth is:

                                          i.    Absolute

                                         ii.    Objective

                                        iii.    Universal

                                        iv.    Unchanging

                                         v.    Discovered (ie. not invented)

To Be Continued