Defending the Gospel against philosophical pluralism (Part 1)
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Aside from the triumph of the cross of Christ; there is no
hope for humanity. Flash this across our pluralistic billboards today and the
scoffers will come with their scoffing. (2
Peter 3:4) But truly; what hope does humanity have apart from the cross of
Christ?
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we
do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of
our warfare are not [a]carnal but mighty in God for
pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and
every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing
every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
Hedonists
exalt pleasure and say:
“Eat, drink for tomorrow we die”
This worldview assumes no resurrection so the prevailing
attitude becomes one of self indulgence and gratification in this world as the
ultimate purpose of life. This soul so exalts the created being and denies a
creator that it amounts to self idolatry. This is a common concept amongst
atheists who despise authority and fashion themselves as their own gods.
Hedonism typically falls under a broader philosophy referred to as “Humanism”
by its adherents.
Romans 1:25
25 who exchanged the truth of God for
the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is
blessed forever. Amen.
Philippians 3:19
19 whose end is destruction,
whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their
shame—who set their mind on earthly things.
2 Peter 2:10
10 and especially those who walk
according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They
are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of [a]dignitaries,
·
God wants us to warn such people in gentleness
and humility so that perhaps they will escape the coming judgement God will
pronounce on all idolaters. (Romans
1:18, Romans 2:5-8) Love and truth are inseparable so we have a
responsibility before God to warn idolaters to repent.
Nihilists
claim life is meaningless and say:
“Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
This worldview concedes that there is no purpose to life,
nothing is true, and that no eternity waits after death. Friedrich Nietzsche, a
German philosopher, is mostly credited as the founder of Nihilism. Nihilists
believe there is no such thing as absolute truth and that belief or values are
worthless and untrue. For the nihilist; life is frowned upon with pessimism,
skepticism, and mistrust. The root cause of this worldview is stubborn,
generational unbelief in the word of God. (Acts
7:51, Nehemiah 9:16-17)
2 Kings 17:14-15
14 Nevertheless they would not hear,
but stiffened their necks, like the necks of their fathers, who did not believe
in the Lord their God. 15 And they rejected His statutes
and His covenant that He had made with their fathers, and His testimonies which
He had testified against them; they followed idols, became idolaters, and went
after the nations who were all around them, concerning whom the
Lord had charged them that they should not do like them.
·
Christians believe that God is the source of all
truth and knowledge and it is our responsibility to shed light on these lost
souls. (1 John 5:20, Ephesians 1:3, 9, 2
Timothy 2:8)
Agnostics claim
there is not enough evidence to prove or disprove the existence of God.
This worldview claims that it lacks the necessary knowledge
to believe or disbelieve in the existence of God. They are therefore unable to
believe in a God they do not know. Christians need to boldly and unapologetically
preach/testify the God of the Bible to these people in hopes that they will
believe.
(Acts 8:34)
Hebrews 11:6
6 But without faith it is
impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He
is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Acts 17:23
23 for as I was passing through and
considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this
inscription:
TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.
Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I
proclaim to you:
Universalists believe
that everyone will go to heaven. They are under Satan’s deception that God’s
plan of salvation is not exclusive to the cross of Christ. Scripture plainly
teaches that no one will be saved apart from saving faith in the risen Lord Jesus
Christ.
Acts 4:12
12 Nor is there salvation in any
other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must
be saved.”
1 John 5:12
12 He who has the Son has [a]life; he who does not have
the Son of God does not have life.