This message is from Dr. Sproul’s 32-part teaching series Defending Your Faith. Watch the entire series: www.ligonier.org/learn/series/defending-your-faith

@SetInStoneNow

7 ай бұрын

Thank you. 🙏

This teaching is very helpful for understanding and applying Romans 1. First they suppress and then they trade. For some reason I never saw how mutually inclusive those two actions are.

An overall great teaching series. Defending your faith has been the most helpful teaching series I've had seen (second is Foundations: an overveiw of systematic theology). I remember getting chills from this episode in particular. Soli deo gloria!

“One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.” Romans 14:15 To be fully persuaded is important to our testimony

His opening statement speaks volumes.

I once worked for an atheist , found out the hard way why the scripture tells us not to yoke ourselves with non believers. The hardest thing I have ever done was to try to help that gentleman 😪 5:23

@ryanprosper88

9 ай бұрын

In his mind, he didn't need any help

@Yesica1993

9 ай бұрын

You can only try your best! He is accountable to Christ. But it's so hard, especially when you come to care about them. I've had friends like that, online and in real life. It's heartbreaking when they just won't listen.

@sdog1234

9 ай бұрын

It's unfortunate you judge an entire people based off of one experience you had.

@patrickc3419

9 ай бұрын

Atheism is just another way to say they hate God.

@forhisglory700

9 ай бұрын

@@patrickc3419 True.

"Tragically, atheists will do anything in their power to deny their guilt and accountability before God, even if it means denying that their own existence has meaning. " I know many atheists and none of them has denied their existence has meaning. In fact, it if the theists who believe their existence is meaningless and it's what happens to them in the afterlife that is important.

I LOVE this man!! Hero, par excellence ❤❤

"Denial is not just a river in Egypt" 🤣

Thank you for bringing this truth.

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.” 1 Peter 3:15-17 Respond out of your experiences with the Lord

@GrndSchm

9 ай бұрын

Love how you used the word meek! Such an irrevocably valuable virtue! Having fortitude, valor, courage, and strength within but keeping it sheathed but for the defense of our Holy Creator… such an incredible honor God has given us to defend Him!!😊

@dz7a756

9 ай бұрын

​@GrndSchm Defend the faith, not God...who doesn't need us to defend Him 😊. Be well and be at peace.

What a great lesson.

This doesn't help those who have begged, pleaded and cried out to absolute silence to their death.

“The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile” Psalm 14:1 The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows his handiwork. The unbeliever resists the manifestation of God

@cnault3244

9 ай бұрын

You should read the entire Bible. The Bible tells you to become a fool. 1 Corinthians 3:18 And Jesus says you should not call anyone a fool or you risk damnation. Matthew 5:22 Later in Matthew, Jesus demonstrates his hypocrisy and calls people fools on several occasions ( Matthew 7:26 Matthew 23:17-19 Matthew 25:2, 3, 8 )

The best! Thanks

Hello brothers and sisters. I need help on something. My church has been having women preach during womens month and they have been letting so called apostles preach as well at times. Even although that's the case, I believe that they still stick to the Bible when the main pastor preaches. What should I do?

@aletheia8054

9 ай бұрын

Go to grace and truth ministries pastor Jim brown

@bobdalton2062

9 ай бұрын

Leave & find a different church. Attending a particular church is not how you get to heaven or please God. An apostle is an eyewitness to Jesus Christ - they've been dead for about 2000 years now. There are no apostles alive today

@al_0014

9 ай бұрын

Preaching the word and doing the word are two different things. If they preach it and blatantly refuse to do it, to the point where they don’t know what an apostle is or what Paul wrote about woman preachers/pastors, then switch churches. Those two things are modern-day marks of Antichrist.

It's easy to know what the psychology of the atheist is like. When you know why you reject gods other than yours, you'll know why atheists reject yours.

@cnault3244

9 ай бұрын

Psychology of the atheist? Atheism is a non-belief that any god exists. Is there also a psychology of people who have no belief leprechauns exist? Or a psychology of people who have no belief mermaids exist?

@Wolf-ln1ml

8 ай бұрын

It's just as easy to know the psychology of every theist.... except of course that if you actually *_talk to them_* and of course listen to what they're saying, your "knowledge" will almost certainly turn out to be completely false. Seriously, *_this_* is what happens when you only listen to people who tell you _about_ atheists. How happy would you be if atheists kept telling you, "No, this and that is why you believe, you may think otherwise, but you're wrong, I know better what's going on in your mind, so let me help you..." Wouldn't you find that just a _liiiittle_ bit arrogant and condescending?

God made the wicked for the day of destruction; they just don't know it yet (Proverbs 16:4).

I’ve been a mental health professional for 30+ years and he nailed it.

@michaeleldredge4279

8 ай бұрын

You managed to work in mental health for 30+ years without running into someone who was upset that they were in the process of losing their faith? I doubt it. I think you are either overstating your experience or you are grossly misinterpreting the experiences that you have had with people going through their deconversion.

As one Christian said ... I don't have enough faith to be an atheist !

@PatternSon

9 ай бұрын

I'm a Christian too, and I agree with th statement, but can you share what you think that means?

@williamwhite1596

9 ай бұрын

@@PatternSon Yes It means you have to stretch your imagination and twist things to fit the atheist beliefs . They must come up with things trying to get around God as the creator of everything . Much easier for me to have faith in God and His Word than to believe things just came out of nowhere and listen to another person big ideas . Ahiest have zero proof but act as if their ideas are facts . So do conmen !

@patrickc3419

9 ай бұрын

That was Frank Turek, correct?

The video ended before the lecture 😮😖

If you need to defend your faith it's not very strong.

I am an atheist. I define atheism as suspending any acknowledgment as to the reality of any particular god until sufficient credible evidence is introduced. My position is that *_I have no good reason to acknowledge the reality of any god._* And here is why I currently hold to such a position. Below are 10 facts I must consider when evaluating the claim made by certain theists that some god exists in reality. To be clear, these are not premises for any argument concluding there to be no gods. These are simply facts I must take into account when evaluating such a claim. 1. I personally have never observed a god. 2. I have never encountered any person whom has claimed to have observed a god. 3. I know of no accounts of persons claiming to have observed a god that were willing or able to demonstrate or verify their observation for authenticity, accuracy, or validity. 4. I have never been presented a valid logical argument which also employed sound premises that lead deductively to a conclusion that a god(s) exists in reality. 5. Of the many logical syllogisms I have encountered arguing for the reality of a god(s), I have found all to contain either logical fallacies or false or unsubstantiated premises. 6. I have never observed a phenomenon in which the existence of a god was a necessary antecedent for the known or probable explanation for the causation of that phenomenon. 7. Several proposed (and generally accepted) explanations for observable phenomena that were previously based on the agency of a god(s), have subsequently been replaced with rational, natural explanations, each substantiated with evidence that excluded the agency of a god(s). I have never encountered _vice versa._ 8. I have never experienced the presence of a god through intercession of angels, divine revelation, the miraculous act of divinity, or any occurrence of a supernatural event. 9. Every phenomena that I have ever observed has *_emerged_* from necessary and sufficient antecedents over time without exception. In other words, I have never observed a phenomenon (entity, process, object, event, process, substance, system, or being) that was created _ex nihilo_ - that is instantaneously came into existence by the solitary volition of a deity. 10. All claims of a supernatural or divine nature that I have encountered have either been refuted to my satisfaction, or do not present as falsifiable. ALL of these facts lead me to the only rational conclusion that concurs with the realities I have been presented - and that is the fact that there is *_no good reason_* for me to acknowledge the reality of any god. I have heard often that atheism is the denial of the Abrahamic god. But denial is the active rejection of a substantiated fact once credible evidence has been presented. Atheism is simply withholding such acknowledgement until sufficient credible evidence is introduced. *_It is natural, rational, and prudent to be skeptical of unsubstantiated claims, especially extraordinary ones._* I welcome any cordial response. Peace.

@ryanprosper88

9 ай бұрын

If you held that level of skepticism for anything else, you would lose your mind.

@brandonfield516

9 ай бұрын

It sounds like you don't want there to be. If I don't want to find truth I won't. I can only tell you the peace He has given me surpasses any worldly understanding. I'm praying for you that God will open your eyes. Blessings

@Yesica1993

9 ай бұрын

You don't get to make up definitions. Atheism is the belief that there is no God. "I have no good reason to acknowledge the reality of any god." If you'd have bothered to watch this video, you'd know there are. There are countless volumes on the topic. And, as I said in my original comment, there are entire ministries dedicated to giving "good reasons" for acknowledging the God of the Bible. (But thanks for proving my point.)

@estermills3603

9 ай бұрын

First, I'd like to commend you for presenting your points rationally and non-aggressively. It can be hard to do that in a comment section that's definitely full of people who probably disagree with you. Second, I'd like to ask you then, how do you believe life came into existence? Do you think that it is impossible to know how the universe began?

@Yesica1993

9 ай бұрын

Understand that because you landed on this video (whether you watched it or not) you will be held to higher account, because you had more information. Repent, while Christ still grants you breath to do so. Once you die or He returns, whichever comes first, it is eternally too late.

7:30 "For [atheists] there is an enormous vested interest in their part for the denial of the existence of God." This is just not true. Many atheists are deconverted theists. For many of those people the initial stages of deconversion included a period of wanting God to be real but being unable to convince themselves that there is a God.

"You're an adult now, not a baby. If you choose sin, that's not innocent. Babies don't go to hell, adults that choose sin do. And there's a lot more sins in the world than just murdering babies. You advocating for abortion to encourage babies to be murdered, is morally the same as murdering babies though. So yes, you have murdered innocent babies who won't go to hell, but you will If you don't repent." That is a reply I get often when I talk about the hypocrisy of Christian support of forced birth! If Christiany is true then abortion is the most moral thing that potential mothers could ever do! For the vast majority of human beings...almost 6 billion people according to Christianity...eternally burning and suffering in hell will be their fate! In fact if hell is real...the majority of human beings should curse their mothers who were selfish enough to risk extreme eternal suffering for them! Abortion is the most humane thing a mother could ever do...the risk of eternal torture far outweighs any life even eternal life. So do Christians have a denial problem or a logic problem? From the comment above it seems that Chritians don't realize or don't want to recognize that all babies grow up to be adults if they live who will sin or choose not to believe in christ! If you really believe in hell why don't you advocate for abortion? Do you really hate adult people so much that you want them to suffer eternally? Are you really that selfish? How do you reconcile this monsterous dichotomy of Christ? Why do you believe in a God that is so powerless, ineffectual, inadequate, weak, useless that they can't keep the majority of people born from burning in hell for eternity?

An atheist is simply a person who rejects faith because he or she is not convinced by the existence of God . Believing in a God , in his or her view , is such embracing a lie in broad light . As an atheist , I admit that I never tried to deny the existence of God . In contrary I had always sought the true faith , but I failed . My problem with the existence of God is that I want God ; a true God and not inventive or faked one .

@abderrahimCHERRANI-lk8ss

9 ай бұрын

Is your Oopoppppppp a reply ? I am all ears . Please try at least to say something interesting.@@Theo_Skeptomai

@Theo_Skeptomai

9 ай бұрын

@@abderrahimCHERRANI-lk8ss It was an inadvertent entry. Get over it.

@al_0014

9 ай бұрын

Then come to Christ. He’s the true God and eternal life, and will save you out of the misery of sin.

@Theo_Skeptomai

9 ай бұрын

@al_0014 How did you determine this 'Christ' is a _reality?_

@abderrahimCHERRANI-lk8ss

9 ай бұрын

@@al_0014 Many thanks for your invitation to your religion . I am an atheist but not a sinner or wrongdoer ; I am kind , sociable and loving people . I could not believe in resurrection , eternal life and such things . You are just , my friend , advertising for your God and promising me the moon .

God leaves clues of his existence. Sproul mentions God’s immutability and it dawned on me. What else is immutable in this universe? Truth, mathematics, and his existence. Math is a representation of his order in this chaos.

@al_0014

9 ай бұрын

Not only that - but chaos itself is really just a very complicated order. There’s a whole branch of math called “chaos theory,” and it isn’t as oxymoronic as the name sounds 😂 God is undeniable and inescapable

Cya

I used to be an atheist. It was the height of religious rigidity in my life.

@patrickc3419

9 ай бұрын

How did you get saved from that?

@spiritman-em4qr

9 ай бұрын

@@patrickc3419 By His mercy, God saved me.

@patrickc3419

9 ай бұрын

@@spiritman-em4qr Amen! Soli Deo Gloria! 🙏

@UnderWaterExploring

9 ай бұрын

@@spiritman-em4qr how??? which god?? why was it merciful?? why you and not other people?? was there mercy from god when he didnt save someone else but saved you?? does god save everybody?? if you were atheist before, then how do you even know which god saved you? did you ask a god to save you when you were atheist> if so, why? how? how do you ask to be saved to a god you dont believe in? were you really an atheist?? if you were, why were you an atheist? all honest and fair questions....

@spiritman-em4qr

9 ай бұрын

@@UnderWaterExploring Your questions _may be_ fair and honest, but my comment/reply was addressed to @patrickc3419, and not to you, so in order to qualify your questions, and to invite you into the conversation, I'll ask a few fair and honest questions of my own, and if you're willing to answer them then I'll take a stab at answering your questions; deal? Bear in mind, that I am no biblical scholar, nor am I a formally trained theologian, so any answers I can provide will be rooted in my own personal study and understanding of biblical theology, and may not satisfy you inquiry. Do you own/read a bible?? Are you friends with any Christians?? Why, if you're watching a Christian themed KZread video, do you ask "which god" and use lower case (g) to do so?? Are you an atheist?? Are your questions intended to gain true understanding, or are they aimed at initiating debate/argument?? I'm willing to take a stab at answering your questions, but in my experience, when someone asks the questions you've asked, it isn't because they want to gain understanding, but rather, because they want to have an argument or mock another person's beliefs. Also, please bear in mind that my faith is independent of anyone else's argument, attempt, or presumed ability to change my position on the matter, so I've said up front that my position is unchangeable, and is not subject to persuasion otherwise.

When the atheist speaks of life being meaningless, he is critiquing his own existence. He's also expressing his jealously of the redeemed Christian being these and only these have consistent meaning in their lives. The atheist, on the other hand, is the most miserable of creatures there are simply because he spends his life denying the existence of what he claims doesn't exist. How he can give non-existence a name and spend his energy denying non-existence does not exist, is a psychosis in itself... crackheads make more sense.

@MathewSteeleAtheology

9 ай бұрын

If that's what atheists actually believed, you're right, crackheads make more sense. It isn't surprising that you mock what you don't understand.

@oldmanjoe6808

9 ай бұрын

@@MathewSteeleAtheology Same goes to you Mr.Atheist... you mock God who *you* don't understand. Instead, you mock what you claim doesn't exist... that's dumb and a psychosis in itself. That's the hypocracy of the Atheist and the Atheist religion... what's okay for you is not okay for the theist. You replied off topic as atheists simply can not address the issues I've presented. But, I will thank you for agreeing with my indictments via acquiescence by silience.

@MathewSteeleAtheology

9 ай бұрын

@@oldmanjoe6808 Oh you want a response to the nonsense you wrote? OK. Life being meaningless: all meaning and purpose rely on belief in them to work, so convincing yourself that meaning and purpose are real makes them real. It's literal make-believe, just like God. Jealousy of Christians: not even a little bit jealous. Believe what you want. Being miserable: since belief in gods and superstitions are just mental tricks we humans have developed to deal with how difficult and painful life can be, and we care more about what's true than being blissfully ignorant, you're right on this one. Life is miserable when you care about what's true. Denying what doesn't exist: It's really not that complicated. People make claims, those people never have good reasons for making those claims. Unfortunately those people cause a lot of harm and can't simply be ignored. Giving non-existence a name: God is just an idea, and as an idea, it does exist, in the same way that baseball exists as a sport. It's something people do. Believers do God like the NFL does football. Spending energy: Some people just like to argue, but most nonbelievers are actually trying to help believers wake up to the fact that God isn't real. But you can only lead a horse to water. And some people can't or won't be helped, which is something it takes time and maturity to realize. Mocking God: God isn't real, I can't mock God any more than I can mock Bigfoot or the Tooth Fairy or the Loch Ness Monster. The mockery is towards the ideas that people have in their heads, as that's the only place God actually exists. Not understanding: I understand God better than you do.

@oldmanjoe6808

9 ай бұрын

@@MathewSteeleAtheology Laughable. You admitted yourself that your life is meaningless by saying... "mental tricks we humans ( you mean atheists being they live in a world of self- inflicted illusion ) have developed to deal with how difficult and painful life can be." I see your "mental tricks" haven't worked so far for you to admit "difficulty and pain" persists in you. "Mental tricks" is obviously what atheists display in their understaning of themselves and the world outside of them. Another circular reasoning you're guilty of is when you say you don't mock God. You give yourself away as a liar and a hypocrite being you're alive only to correct and prove to people there is no God, with only atheist rhethoric. Your say so isn't even to prove there is no God while you yourself made the statement... "I understand God better than you do." Brilliant. Here's and atheist who claims no God exists and yet understands God better than a theist. Laughable. See, I told you you're a hypocrite. You're not even what an atheist would call an atheist. I don't believe for a moment you have the intellectual ability to frame an apt reply but rather are swallowed up in your own confusion. You're talking atheist in one breath and theist in another. Crackheads make more sense. Unless the monkey gave you morals and unless the monkey gave you no fear of Judgment Day, now worm out of that Mr.Theist-Atheist. I sure don't need to hear from you again. But Repent, and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.

@Theo_Skeptomai

9 ай бұрын

Have you ever encountered an atheist that states life is meaningless? Yes or no.

Videos like this is why believers are so uninformed and don’t understand the other side. Most atheists were believers.

This is all so very pitiful.

@patrickc3419

9 ай бұрын

Sir, while I am not an apologist (rather, a presuppositionist), I wanted to ask you two questions: -What do you think is more important; what a person believes (I’m not just saying religion, but anything) or whether what they believe is true? -Who defines what is, “good”, “bad”, “evil”, etc. Society? A government? Schools?

@MathewSteeleAtheology

9 ай бұрын

@@patrickc3419 "What do you think is more important..." Either of those two can be situationally more important. "Who defines what is..." Definitions only describe usage. The answer would therefore depend on which dictionary you're talking about.

@patrickc3419

9 ай бұрын

@@MathewSteeleAtheology To tie both of those together: Humanity witnessed 80 decades ago a society which defined it good, important, and permissible to annihilate 12 million Jewish people, blacks, Roman Catholics, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Gypsies, Christians (an inconvenient truth), POWS, the developmentally disabled, etc. and it was LEGAL. It was all legal. Not one state law of theirs was broken, and their society said it was “good”. The combination of the morality written on man’s heart as well as the observable handiwork in the created order leaves zero possibility to be an atheist. The alternative is that there are people who simply suppress the truth in unrighteousness out of hatred for God and love for self. Aside from that, truth isn’t based on what you or I believe. What we believe is irrelevant. If I think the Sun’s hot, you think the Sun’s cold, we both can’t be right.

@cnault3244

9 ай бұрын

@@patrickc3419 Does the Bible define what is evil?

@patrickc3419

9 ай бұрын

@@cnault3244 It does. Evil comes from the naturally wicked heart of man. See Matthew 7:20-23.

Every religion is atheistic in regard to other religions. True Atheists believe none of them. There's plenty of meaning in life without adding beliefs. You were going about your life without someone telling you about their religion. Your life's purpose is your own.