LECTURE 1: INTRODUCTION
The foundation of our entire Christian faith consists of two great and interrelated truths: the existence of God and the existence of His Word. God is, and God has spoken. More specifically, the God who really exists has actually spoken words to men, and these are only preserved in the Holy Bible. Once these truths are received, the theology and practice of the Christian faith flow from an intellectual and spiritual apprehension of what the Bible teaches.
Hence the Christian faith’s enemies often insinuate doubts or openly attack God’s existence and the divine authority of Scripture. Atheism and agnosticism have many adherents today, and among theists, including professing Christians, relatively few hold to a high view of the Bible as infallible, inerrant, and sufficient Word of God. Many if not most of false religion in this world either attacks the existence of the true God, or feigns loyalty to Him while undermining the authority of His Word. if they would repent of their skepticism toward the God of the Scriptures and the Scriptures of God, they would have taken giant strides toward Christian orthodoxy. Therefore, real Christians must be ready to defend the biblical faith on these two great battlegrounds, if they would defend the faith at all.
Contentions about the two great fundamentals are nothing new. Our Puritan forefathers were bold as lions in their confrontation of Christ’s enemies. They knew well this was their spiritual responsibility, and they rose to the occasion. Puritan Matthew Poole’s commentary on 1 Pet 3.15 is classic. Upon this text which reads, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear,” he wrote:
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; exalt him in your hearts, and give him the honor of all his glorious perfections, power, wisdom, goodness, faithfulness, etc., by believing them, and depending upon his promises for defense and assistance against all the evils your enemies may threaten you with. And be ready always; prepared to answer when duly called to it. To give an answer; or, to make an apology or defense, viz. of the faith ye profess; the word is used, Acts 22:1; 1 Cor 9:3. To every man that asketh you; either that hath authority to examine you, and take an account of your religion; or, that asks with modesty, and a desire to be satisfied, and learn of you. A reason of the hope that is in you; i.e. faith, for which hope is frequently used in Scripture, which is built upon faith: the sense is: Whereas unbelievers, your persecutors especially, may scoff at your hope of future glory, as vain and groundless, and at yourselves, as mad or foolish, for venturing the loss of all in this world, and exposing yourselves to so many sufferings, in expectation of ye know not what uncertainties in the other; do ye therefore be always ready to defend and justify your faith against all objectors, and to show how reasonable your hope of salvation is, and on how sure a foundation it is built. With meekness and fear; either with meekness in relation to men, in opposition to passion and intemperate zeal, (your confession of the faith must be with courage, but yet with a spirit of meekness and modesty,) and fear or reverence in relation to God, which, where it prevails, overcomes the fierceness of men’s spirits, and makes them speak modestly of the things of God, and give due respect to men; or, fear may be set in opposition to pride, and presumption of a man’s own wisdom or strength; q.d. [every day] Make confession of your faith humbly, with fear and trembling, not in confidence of your own strength, or gifts, or abilities.
This is a very godly perspective on representing and defending the Christian faith before skeptics and heretics. One of the most significant things Puritans did to help ordinary church members prepare for making such a defense was to catechize them, that is, to instruct by a series of questions and answers to be committed verbatim to memory. Even though Christians generally disdain this practice today, memorizing sound words based on Scripture is the start of becoming a capable apologist.
Particularly, the Westminster Larger Catechism (WLC), in #2 and #4, provides most excellent and succinct language addressing these two great foundational truths. Studying them carefully, even memorizing the answers, considering the biblical proof texts, and reflecting upon their meaning, will help us answer the call of 1 Pet 3.15.
WLC’s first five Q&A’s are of an introductory nature, and it is best to consider #2 and #4 in their catechetical context.
Question 2. How doth it appear that there is a God?
Answer. The very light of nature in man, and the works of God, declare plainly that there is a God; [Rom 1.19-20; Psa 19.1-3; Acts 17.28] but his word and Spirit only do sufficiently and effectually reveal him unto men for their salvation. [1 cor 2.9-10; 2 Tim 3.15-17; Isa 59.21]
Question 4. How doth it appear that the Scriptures are of the Word of God?
Answer. The Scriptures manifest themselves to be the Word of God, by their majesty [Hos 8.12; 1 Cor 2.6-7; 1 Cor 2.13; Psa 119.18; Ps 119.129] and purity; [Psa 12.6; Ps 119.140] by the consent of all the parts, [Acts 10.43; Acts 26.22] and the scope of the whole, which is to give all glory to God; [Rom 3.19; Rom 3.27] by their light and power to convince and convert sinners, to comfort and build up believers unto salvation: [Acts 18.28; Acts 20.32; Heb 4.12; James 1.18; Psa 19.7-9; Rom 15.4] but the Spirit of God bearing witness by and with the Scriptures in the heart of man, is alone able fully to persuade it that they are the very word of God. [John 16.13-14;john 20.31; 1 John 2.20; 1 John 2.27]
Though centuries old, these answers are superb, worthy of sustained attention and memorization, even by us.
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