Over the past few years, on very much a part time basis, I have been studying towards a Diploma of Christian Ministry and Theology, this has proved useful as I have been able to study and read a variety of different texts and perspectives from Christian writers and authors etc.

The most recent module was the study of apologetics, which is basically a study in how to defend the Christian faith, whether that be from someone trying to propagate their own religion or beliefs on you, or more usefully (as the Bible says to avoid foolish debates) to answer any questions a non-believer may have as you work towards presenting them with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Therefore, with Christmas fast approaching and people often demonstrating a heightened interest in Christianity at this sacred time of the year, I decided to share with you some things I picked up on this component of the course.

Apologetics is essential for the disciple today as it deals with defending and commending the Christian faith. I wanted to therefore demonstrate Christ’s incredible and life changing sacrifice to you, first and foremost through scripture, as ultimately it is the power of God’s Word that saves,
but also, with something historic, scientific, anecdotal and tangible. (as the world would see it)

The attacks from the enemy are fiercer than ever. People are being told lie after lie about their true purpose, human life, evolution, the big bang theory etc. While essential Biblical truths are being distorted and even removed from key areas of society like schools and the workplace.
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In the media, we are seeing an increased censorship of God's Word. Even major Christian events like Christmas and Easter are coming under attack more aggressively than ever, under the guise of 'equality.'

False religion is a major issue too, people will often say ‘how do you know that Christianity is the right way and all the others are wrong?’ Usually non-believers will blame ‘religion’ for much of the trouble in the world today and throughout history. 

Even The Bible itself is under attack, with most of the modern versions removing, twisting and changing the meaning of many key scriptures. The NIV for example, one of the most popular Bibles in the world today, removes over 16 entire verses from The New Testament and over 5000 words, many of them affecting key teachings on salvation, repentance, baptism and the deity of Jesus Christ. This is why I will always use a King James Bible.

". . .man shall not live by bread alone, but by EVERY WORD of God." Luke 4:4
 
Before I start working towards some Biblical truths and overwhelming support from other sources,
I would like to break down some common misconceptions.

You see, every other belief system is about your good works saving you, (usually in tandem with believing in some kind of 'higher power') whereas Christianity is not about how good you are or what you can bring to the table, it’s what God has already done for you.

Once you put your faith in Jesus Christ and trust in what He’s done for you, that’s it,
it's done..you’re saved forever!
 
The Bible says in John 3:16 ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but hath everlasting life.’

It's simple, we are saved by grace, through faith in Christ.

Your good works are still vital as they will determine whether God will use you for ministry and will likely determine your level of future blessings and rewards in this physical life and beyond, but they are not requisite to making it to Heaven. Salvation is completely a free gift.

‘For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.’ Ephesians 2:8-9
 
You don’t even have to change your lifestyle, go to Church or get baptized (although The Bible says you should do all those things!) Your ticket to Heaven is already bought and paid for when you put your faith and trust in what Jesus has already done for you.
 
The Bible says that you can’t make it through on your own.
‘For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God;’ Romans 6:2

We all fall short and need a Saviour.
I, like millions before me, and surely millions more to come, can testify that Jesus Christ is that Saviour.

The world will try and tell you that you don’t need God, that The Bible is just an archaic book that isn’t relevant anymore, but I can tell you that it’s more relevant than today’s newspaper!
Look how people and nations fall when they turn away from God and look how they prosper when they turn to God and actively seek and follow Him.

Every great society was built on trust and faith in God’s plan and words.

Look at the great cities and cultures throughout history in this world. You see, where Christianity is, people and countries flourish. God’s people have always got up and built stuff and made things happen.

This world was made by God for us to inhabit, to experience community together, and to live peacefully with one another. God has promised to preserve the earth for us.
'One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh, but the earth abideth forever.' Ecclesiastes 1:4

The devil and his minions have attacked and that is where all the troubles in the world stems from.
As nations we need to turn back to God with our values and laws and ways and through this repentance He will open up the Heavens and let it rain for us! He will bless us if we turn back to Him!
 
The Bible says in Psalms 111:10 ‘The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;’
You see friend, without the Holy spirit inside us, the Comforter as Jesus refers to Him, we are blind. Like a boat lost at sea with an irreparable leak, destined to sink.
When you receive Christ as your saviour your spirit is brought to life. This is a permanent indwelling and an everlasting change that can never be undone.

'Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.' John 3:3
 
There is another scripture I must quote before I go into some historical and scientific reasons why you should put your trust in Jesus and the Bible, and that is in Romans 1:22
‘Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,’

You see most of The scientist and physicists of this world aren't even saved. They are as blind as the next unsaved person and no authority to tell you anything about the true wonder and beauty of this planet, which we Christians know God literally spoke into existence.

‘But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.’
1 Corinthians 2:14   
 
True science marries up with The Bible. Something can’t come out of nothing, even a year 10 high school science student can tell you that! There must have been an intelligent designer and that designer is the God of the Bible, the one true God. (manifested in 3 persons; The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit) Only God can truly breathe life into anything.
 
Many people think that this planet evolved over millions or even billions of years depending on who’s fairy tale you believe! But the Bible tells us that just as God made a mature man and woman in Adam and Eve, who were both approximately 30 years of age when God created them,
God also made a mature planet. So, when ‘scientists’ try and work out how old the earth is without factoring in this Biblical truth, it makes no sense.

You must also remember that God got angry at the depth of man’s sin and pretty much wiped things out with a great flood very early on in human history. (the story of Noah’s ark)
He just about started again, yet scientists rarely factor this in with their carbon dating etc
 
Sometimes it takes mankind a long time to catch up to God and Biblical truth.
For example using clean running water rather than still water for hygiene reasons, the fact that the world is round (a globe) the paths of the sea that allow for maximum sea transport and marine navigation, the fact that dinosaurs and man co-existed on this planet at some point, this is all shown in the Bible. It just took man centuries to catch up!

Even then, many did not want to admit that God was right all along. You see God is always right.
He is the perfect judge, full of mercy and love which is why He allowed His perfect Son to come into the world and give fallen man the opportunity to be reconciled to Him.
 
‘And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;’ 2 Corinthians 5:18

There is much historic proof too, Sources other than the Gospel writers recorded the darkness that covered much of the earth on the day that Jesus was crucified.

Even historians who don’t believe that Jesus is God, recognise him as a great historical figure, while many false religions will recognise him as a prophet or great teacher and philosopher.   
Of course, us Christians see Him as far more than that, the Saviour of the entire world no less, but my point here is that there is no question that the person Jesus Christ existed and was crucified. Even your average atheist will acknowledge that!

With regard to the preservation of the Greek text of the New Testament, we have copies dating from within a couple of generations from the writing of the originals whereas in the case of other ancient texts the corresponding time-gap can be up to ten centuries or more. God promised to preserve his word and there is no question that The Bible continues to change life’s today.

The biggest evidence that I can possibly offer outside of quoting scripture and showing you from The Bible itself is the testimonies of literally tens of millions of people that have received His grace. No matter what the time in the history of mankind, there has always been a multitude of people that have believed on The Lord Jesus Christ and have been steadfast in their belief often in the face of adversity. Look at The Apostles themselves, (excluding Judas who was unsaved and chosen by Jesus to fulfil scripture) Bible scholars conclude that all but 1 of them was martyred for their beliefs.

People don’t allow themselves to be killed or even persecuted unless they are convinced that what they are believing is the truth. During the dark ages, Bible believing Christians died horrific deaths for their beliefs, but it was all worth it. You see we only have a relatively short time on this planet. Yes, science and medicines are improving and perhaps the average person can hope to live to 85 years old now. But what is that in the scheme of things? It really is just a vapour when you look at the eternal picture.

Do you want to be spending eternity in a horrible, terrible place?
Then keep trusting in your works and ‘good’ character to get you to Heaven for you will fall short friend. Your works are as filthy rags to Him the Bible reads. If you want to make it to Heaven then humble yourself, admit you fall short and choose Jesus to take you there through belief in His death, burial and resurrection.

'He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.'
1 John 5:12

Then there are the arts, literally tens of thousands of beautiful pieces of art, film and literature dedicated to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Thousands of beautiful songs written and continue to be written that bring glory to our incredible and gracious God. Just recently I heard these lyrics from a famous hymn and I thought only a saved believer could write those words, someone who has truly encountered His forgiveness and grace.

’Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe.
Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it pure as snow.’

Here are some lyrics from another beautiful hymn we all know and love

‘Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see’

In finishing I just wanted to say this, when you do come to Christ with a humble heart and receive the free gift of salvation it is like a veil has been removed from your eyes. You can see truth!

The first thing you will often think is how could I have been so blind for all those years?
Don't worry this is a completely normal reaction, and one other piece of advise I would give to a new believer is don't continue to dwell on past sins and mistakes that you made before you came to know Christ, you where just a human being trying to navigate your way through. Let it go.

The Bible says that as far as the east is from the west those sins have been forgiven and forgotten. So move on. Jesus already paid for those sins on the Cross at Calvary.

'As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.'
Psalm 103:12

My question to you now is friend, are you going to accept the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour? Who paid for all our sins on that Cross at Calvary so all who believe can make it to Heaven someday?

Being saved is as easy as drinking a glass of water, eating a piece of bread or walking through a door the Bible says. God wants you to be saved!  
‘The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.’ 2 Peter 3:9

Jesus said in Mark 1:15 ‘…Repent ye and believe the Gospel.’ Repentance is that lightbulb moment of recognising that you are a sinner, are lost and on your way to hell, it is turning from trusting in your own works or whatever else it was you where trusting in to accepting the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord and receiving the free gift of eternal life.

It is a moment of truth. Where you change your mind and heart to now fully believing and trusting in Jesus and what He has done for you.

It is that supernatural event where the Holy Spirit comes flooding in and you are passed from death to life spiritually in a moment of time.

Friend, you can be secure for all eternity by making this decision now. In 1 John 5:13 The Bible reads ‘These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the Son of God.’

So, you can know this today The Bible says. You can have this wonderful, eternal security, this assurance that God so generously gives to all those that believe.

I hope you make the decision to call on Him as I did. It is the best decision I ever made. I now have an inner peace that Transcends all understanding and an optimism that many can not understand.
In Romans 10:13 The Bible says ‘For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’  It really is that simple, it’s just man wants to complicate it!

The laws of God are written on the hearts of man the Bible says, intrinsically you know what is right. The evidence is overwhelming really, it’s on our hearts, in our conscience and everywhere you look through nature and the skies. This, along with His word and His perfect Son, is how God reveals Himself to us, and so the unbeliever is without excuse the Bible says.

And if I can finish with 1 more scripture, the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 6:2 ‘Behold, now is the day of salvation.’ So, my question to you is…would you call on Him today?

Please consider this prayer...
Dear Jesus,
I know that I am a sinner and that I can't make it though on my own.
But I believe that You died on the Cross for me.
Please save me and take me to Heaven when I die.
I'm trusting only in You Jesus.
Amen