The Creed - I Believe

I BELIEVE in Godthe Father Almighty, Maker
of heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ his only
Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born

The Creed
of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified,
dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose
again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the
right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to
judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy
catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins;
the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen

The Creed
I BELIEVE

―What I believe in my heart
must make sense in my mind‖
- Ravi Zacharias

The Creed – I Believe

Believe - Pisteuo
(1) to consider something to be true and
therefore worthy of one’s trust
(2) to entrust oneself to an entity in complete
confidence


Poll: Belief in UFOs Matches Belief in OT, NT as Word of
God

By Eric Young
Christian Post Reporter
Thu, Dec. 11 2008 01:51 PM EST

A little more than a third of Americans believe all the text in the Old
Testament or all the text in the New Testament represent the Word of God,
according to the results of a newly released poll.

That’s about the same as the percentage of people who believe in UFOs
(36 percent) and less than the amount of people who believe in ghosts (44
percent), Harris Interactive found through its online survey.


Key Question…
Why Should Anyone
Believe Anything At All…?


―When one person suffers from a delusion,
it's called insanity. When many people
suffer from a delusion, it's called religion.‖
-Robert Pirsig,
American writer and philosopher


Why do people believe what they believe?

Sociological Psychological Religious
• Culture • Comfort • Church
• Friends • Hope • Guru
• Parents • Identity/Meaning • Holy Book
• Society • Peace of Mind • Pastor

Are any of these the right reason to believe?


Why should people believe what they believe?
Philosophical Approach –
To ascertain facts or truth and the causes of things.

Something is worth believing if it is…
•Rational
•Supported by evidence
•The best reason for explaining the gathered data

What happens when you don’t do this?

―People almost invariably arrive at
their beliefs not on the basis of
proof but on the basis of what they
find attractive‖
– Blaise Pascal


―Good philosophy must exist, if for
no other reason, because bad
philosophy needs to be answered. ‖
- C. S. Lewis


―See to it that no one takes you
captive through hollow and deceptive
philosophy, which depends oh human
tradition and the basic principles of
this world rather than on Christ‖
- Colossians 2:8


Philosophy: philosophia: love of wisdom
quot;Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to
understanding;quot;(Proverbs 2:2)

quot;For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge
and understanding. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, Guarding the paths
of justice, And He preserves the way of His godly ones. Then
you will discern righteousness and justice And equity and every
good course. For wisdom will enter your heart And knowledge
will be pleasant to your soul;quot;(Proverbs 2:6-10)


The Philosophical Tests for Any Valid
Belief System:
1. Logical Consistency
2. Empirical Adequacy
3. Existential Relevancy
It must present in a consistent non-contradictory manner,
provide evidential and explanatory support, and account
for the facts of experience
―Come let us reason together…‖ – Isaiah 1:18

―They [religious beliefs] are illusions,
fulfillments of the oldest, strongest, and
most urgent wishes of mankind. We call
belief an illusion when a wish-fulfillment is a
prominent factor in its motivation, and in
doing so we disregard its relation to reality,
just as the illusion itself sets no store by
verification‖
- Sigmund Freud

Epistemology…
The branch of philosophy that investigates the nature and origin of knowledge

Think Critically (examination)
•
Think Clearly (clarification)
•
Think Correctly (argumentation)
•
Think Comprehensively (systematization)
•

―You shall love the Lord your God with all … your mind‖ – Matt. 22:37


Epistemology…
The branch of philosophy that investigates the nature and origin of knowledge

Minds – may be knowing or ignorant
•
Propositions – may be true or false
•
Objects – may be real or imaginary
•

Example: Unicorns are imaginary objects; therefore, the proposition ―Unicorns
do not exist‖ is true; and when a mind assents to this proposition, the person
knows it to be true and has acquired knowledge.


Forming a Belief…
• A belief begins by understanding that a particular
idea is plausible
• A plausibility structure – ―favorable conditions‖ –
form in the mind so that a belief can be entertained
• Anything not viewed as plausible will be rejected
• Real belief must rest on content (not sincerity and
fervency of desire)

―Beliefs are simply not to be equated with truth or reality; rather, they are to
conform to truth‖ - Paul Copan


―Hence we account simultaneously for the
two facts that beliefs (a) depend on minds
for their existence, (b) do not depend on
minds for their truth.‖
- Betrand Russell, Atheist, The Problems of Philosophy


Knowledge…
―When the knower
and the known
become one‖
– Thomas Aquinas


Five Means of Gaining Knowledge

1. Authoritarianism (Faith) – Testimony
2. Subjectivism – Intuition & direct contact
3. Rationalism – Through reason alone
4. Empiricism – Experience via the senses
5. Pragmatism – Through natural sciences

Which source(s) of knowledge does Christianity rely on?


―If we take in our hand any volume
of divinity or school metaphysics,
for instance, let us ask, Does it
contain any abstract reasoning
concerning quantity or number?
No. Does it contain any
experimental reasoning
concerning matter of fact and
existence? No. Commit it then to
the flames, for it can contain
nothing but sophistry and
illusion.‖
- David Hume


A. J. Ayer
Logical Positivism (Scientism)

• Is the truth claim a tautology?
• Is the truth claim empirically
verifiable?

If not, then it is meaningless and
emotive at best. All God talk is
meaningless


―There is an important difference between the scientific
and legal methods for determining truth. The legal
method does not ignore testimony or facts because
they are not reproducible or testable. By a process of
elimination and corroboration, the legal method allows
history and testimony to speak for itself until a verdict is
reached beyond a reasonable doubt and the balance of
probability is achieved. I did not witness various battles
that occurred through history and I cannot reproduce
WWII so I must rely on documents and independent
testimony to determine its plausibility. Certain kinds of
tests are appropriate for different realms of thought.‖
- Joe Boot

quot;And he who has seen has
testified, and his testimony is
true; and he knows that he is
telling the truth, so that you also
may believe.quot;
(John 19:35)

Subjectivism
quot;For when Gentiles who do not have the Law
do instinctively the things of the Law, these,
not having the Law, are a law to themselves,―
(Romans 2:14)

Authoritarianism (Faith)
― Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in
the presence of the disciples, which are not written in
this book; but these have been written so that you may
believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and
that believing you may have life in His name.―
(John 20:30-31)

Rationalism
quot;And according to Paul’s custom, he went to
them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with
them from the Scriptures,―
(Acts 17:2)

Empiricism
―See My hands and My feet, that it is I
Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does
not have flesh and bones as you see that I
have.‖ (Luke 24:39)

Authoritarianism (Faith)
― Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in
the presence of the disciples, which are not written in
this book; but these have been written so that you may
believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and
that believing you may have life in His name.―
(John 20:30-31)

Pragmatism
―The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And their expanse is declaring the work of
His hands.quot;(Psalm 19:1)

Frederick Nietzsche on Faith:

―When faith is thus exalted above
everything else, it necessarily follows
that reason, knowledge and patient
inquiry have to be discredited: the
road to the truth becomes a
forbidden road.‖

―Faith means not wanting to know
what is true.‖


Immanuel Kant on Faith:

―I have therefore found it
necessary to deny knowledge, in
order to make room for faith.‖
- Critique of Pure Reason

―Facts have nothing to do with
religion.‖


The Bible on Faith:

Faith: Pistis - ―trust‖ –
―something/one in whom confidence
can be placed; reliability; that which
evokes trust; state of believing on the
basis of the reliability of the one
trusted; pertaining to being worthy of
belief or trust; conviction of the truth;
the character of one who can be
relied on.‖ Greek Lexicon

―Now faith is the substance of things
hoped for, the evidence of things not
seen.‖ – Hebrews 11:1

How to Reconcile Reason and Faith?
quot; For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because
that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it
evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes,
His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being
understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.‖
(Romans 1:18-20)

quot;But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they
are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are
spiritually appraised.‖
(1 Corinthians 2:14)


How to Reconcile Reason and Faith?

― The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work
of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard.‖
(Psalm 19:1-3)

quot;Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so
that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not
in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual
thoughts with spiritual words.‖
(1 Corinthians 2:12-13)

The Role of the Holy Spirit in Belief

quot; A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of
purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord
opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.‖
(Acts 16:14)

quot;for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in
power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you
know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your
sake.‖
(1 Thessalonians 1:5)


Revelatory Authoritarianism
The primary foundation of Christian Belief

Special
General Ontological
Revelation
Revelation Revelation
quot;All Scripture is inspired
quot;For since the creation of quot;He is the image of the
by God and profitable for
the world His invisible invisible God, the firstborn
teaching, for reproof, for
attributes, His eternal of all creation … For in Him
correction, for training in
power and divine nature, all the fullness of Deity
righteousness; so that the
have been clearly seen, dwells in bodily form,―
man of God may be
being understood through (Colossians 1:15,2:9)
adequate, equipped for
what has been made, so
every good work.―
that they are without
(2 Timothy 3:16-17)
excuse.― (Romans 1:20)


Revelatory Authoritarianism
That is Rejected by Fallen Mankind

Special
General Ontological
Revelation
Revelation Revelation
quot;the wisdom which none of
quot;For the time will come when
―For they exchanged the
they will not endure sound the rulers of this age has
truth of God for a lie, and
doctrine; but wanting to have understood; for if they had
worshiped and served the their ears tickled, they will
understood it they would
creature rather than the accumulate for themselves
not have crucified the Lord
Creator, who is blessed teachers in accordance to
of glory;―
forever. Amen.‖ their own desires, and will turn
(1 Corinthians 2:8)
(Romans 1:25) away their ears from the truth
and will turn aside to myths.―
(2 Timothy 4:3-4)


Christianity is Worthy of Belief and Trust
Because…
• It is logically consistent, with no contradictory teaching
(rationalism, but not omitting revelation)
• It is empirically verifiable; grounded in space/time history
through the legal process of evidence (empiricism)
• It is existentially relevant as no other system adequately
explains our world as it exists (empiricism via the senses)
• It is carried via trustworthy testimony (authoritarian)
• It is life-changing (subjectivism)
• It is verifiable via the orderly universe in which all live
(pragmatic)


Christianity is Different Than All Other
Belief Systems. All Others Are…
• Epistemological – The path to God or enlightenment
is through knowledge
• Pragmatic – The path to God or enlightenment is
through works
• Existential – The path to God or enlightenment is
through an experience

Christianity is none of the above – it is Ontological


The Ontological Nature of Christian
Belief…
Truth, Knowledge, and Wisdom are a Person
―I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but
through Me.― (John 14:6)

quot;For God, who said, ―Light shall shine out of darkness,‖ is the One who has
shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in
the face of Christ.― (2 Corinthians 4:6)

―But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from
God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,‖
(1 Corinthians 1:30)


―For this reason I also suffer these
things, but I am not ashamed; for I
know whom I have believed and I am
convinced that He is able to guard
what I have entrusted to Him until
that day.‖
(2 Timothy 1:12)
…Whom not What…

Is belief just a matter of … Thinking logically? …
Examining the evidence? … Recognizing reality? No.
People act contrary to evidence all the time. There
are brilliant people who are believers in Christ and
brilliant people who choose to disbelieve.

Belief is a Matter of the
Will
―If one were to prove this God of the Christians to us, we should be even less
able to believe in him.‖ – Nietzsche


―I want atheism to be true and am made uneasy
by the fact that some of the most intelligent and
well-informed people I know are religious
believers. It isn't just that I don't believe in God
and, naturally hope that I'm right in my belief. It's
that I hope that there is no God! I don't want
there to be a God; I don't want the universe to
be like that.‖
- Thomas Nagel
Professor of Philosophy, New York


Belief is much more than just intellectual assent
to a truth claim…
―For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the
truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying
expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the
adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies
without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much
severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled
under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood
of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the
Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, ―Vengeance is Mine, I
will repay.‖ And again, ―The Lord will judge His people.‖ It is a
terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.‖
(Hebrews 10:26-31)


―If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to give honor
to My name,‖ says the Lord of hosts, ―then I will send the curse upon
you and I will curse your blessings; and indeed, I have cursed them
already, because you are not taking it to heart.‖
- Malachi 2:2

―Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts?‖
– Mark 2:8

―O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets
have spoken‖ – Luke 24:25

―for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness…‖
- Romans 10:10

―When we lack the will to see things as they really are, there is
nothing so mysterious as the obvious.‖
– Irving Kristol, Professor of Social Thought

―Truth is subjectivity‖
– Soren Kierkegaard
Kierkegaard was not espousing relative
truth, but calling all people to commit
themselves to the truth. Truth has an
existential bearing on the life of the one
who commits to it. He knew that Bible
truths were easy to understand in
theory, but difficult to understand in
practice – the latter requires
obedience.


quot;If you know these things, you are blessed
if you do them.―
- Jesus, John 13:17
― Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts
on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on
the rock. ―And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds
blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it
had been founded on the rock. ―Everyone who hears these
words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish
man who built his house on the sand. ―The rain fell, and the
floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house;
and it fell—and great was its fall.‖
- Jesus, Matthew 7:24-27

The Truth Calls For a Decision

―Who do you say that I am?‖
(Matthew 16:15)

To answer that question you must come to examine the claims of
Christ, know what you believe and why…


Depths/Levels of Belief…
Jesus of Nazareth died on a cross Jesus Christ died for me

VS.

That’s history That’s the Gospel


What Level of Belief Saves?
quot;You believe that God is one. You do well; the
demons also believe, and shudder.‖
-James 2:19

―You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you
escape the sentence of hell?‖
- Matthew 23:33

There is a great distinction between assent and consent


―I believe in order that I may
understand‖
- Anselm
―He who would become educated should begin by trusting his
teacher. He will never master his science unless he presumes in
the beginning that the doctrine being presented is true even if,
for the moment, he cannot tell why.‖
- Thomas Aquinas


―How can you live out your
faith without truly
understanding it…?‖
- John Hannah


The Creed - I Believe

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