BIG QUESTIONS ???Q1. TRUTH?

Isn’t Christianity just one of many religions that are

all equally valid? The Uniqueness of Jesus Christ!

1 JOHN 4:1-18

TRUTH CLAIMS

John 14:6 ‘Jesus answered. I am the way and

the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father

except through me.’

Acts 4:12 – ‘Salvation is found in no one else, for

there is no other name under heaven given to

mankind by which we must be saved.’

OUR CULTURAL MOMENT

1.Religious Exclusivity leads to

violence and discrimination.

2.But don’t all religions lead to God?

3.We live in a Post-Truth culture.

1.Religious Exclusivity leads to

violence and discrimination.

Gwyneth Paltrow:‘I don’t believe

in religion. I believe in spirituality.

Religion is the cause of all the

problems in the world. I don’t

believe in organised religion at all.

It’s what separates people. One

religion just represents fragments,

it causes war. More people have

died because of religious conflict

than any other reason’

2. But don’t all religions lead to God?

Timothy Keller:

But how could you possibly know

that no religion can see the whole

truth unless you yourself have the

superior, comprehensive

knowledge of spiritual reality you

just claimed that none of religions

have?

3. We live in a Post-Truth culture.

The Oxford Dictionary defines

Post-Truth:

‘relating to or denoting

circumstances in which objective

facts are less influential in shaping

public opinion than appeals to

emotion and personal belief.’

Abdu Murray:

‘The post-truth mindset acknowledges

objective truth head-on, but subordinates

it to preferences. If the evidence fits our

preferences and opinions, then all is well

and good. If it doesn’t, then the evidence

is deemed inadmissible or offensive,

with offense being a solvent against

otherwise sound arguments.’

The Uniqueness of Christianity and

Jesus Christ

1. God’s Love is Open to all

2. God’s love is unique (Jesus Christ)

3. Jesus Christ brings true freedom

4. A hope-filled vision for now and eternity.

1. God’s Love is for all

The Exclusive claim of the gospel is

radically inclusive!

John 3:16 – ‘For God so loved the world

that he gave his one and only son, that

whoever believes in him shall not perish

but have eternal life.’

2.God’s love is unique (Jesus Christ)

Daniel Akin

‘Religion says ‘look inside

yourself for salvation’. The

gospel says, ‘the only hope

for salvation is outside of

yourself.’

3. Jesus Christ brings true freedom

John 8:31&32 To the

Jews who had believed

him, Jesus said, ‘If you

hold to my teaching, you

are really my disciples.

Then you will know the

truth, and the truth will

set you free.

Charles Wesley: And Can it Be

4. A hope-filled vision for now and eternity

4. A hope-filled vision for now and eternity

Romans 12:9-16

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be

devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the

Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share

with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice

with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony

with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with

people of low position. Do not be conceited.

4. A hope-filled vision for now and eternityRevelation 21:1-5

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”[a] for the first heaven and

the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I

saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from

God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I

heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place

is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his

people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will

wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[b] or

mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”

Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and

true.”

LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER

Q2. THE BIBLE: What is it? And how can I

trust a book that was written over 2000 years

ago? (2 Corinthians 4:1-6) 21 Oct 18