Rom 14:8
“If we live, we live for the Lord, or if we
die, we die for the Lord; therefore
whether we live or die, we are the
Lord's.”
MIRACLES OF JESUS
A STUDY OF DIVINITY
CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS
15 But in your hearts set Christ apart as
Lord. Always be ready to give a
defense to anyone who asks you to
account for the hope and confident
assurance that is within you, yet with
gentleness and respect.
- 1 Peter 3:15
QUESTION
• 1. Bill believes in ghosts
• 2. Ted does not believe in ghosts
• 3. Both Bill and Ted see a ghost
• Which of them believe they have seen a
ghost?
• Why?
• Seeing is not believing
HOW CAN WE VALIDATE MIRACLES?
• Personal Experience?
• No
• History?
• Still No
• Those who wish to succeed must ask
the right preliminary questions –
Aristotle
• Presuppositionalism
JOHN 21:18-19
18 I assure you and most solemnly say to you,
when you were younger you dressed
yourself and walked wherever you wished;
but when you grow old, you will stretch out
your hands and arms, and someone else
will dress you, and carry you where you do
not wish to go.”
19 Now He said this to indicate the kind of
death by which Peter would glorify God.
And after saying this, He said to him,
“Follow Me
NATURALISM VS. SUPERNATURALISM
• Naturalist = Nature is all that exists
• Supernaturalist = Believes something
exists that is beyond nature
• What is Nature?
DEFINING “NATURE”
1. Are those your natural teeth or fake ones?
2. The Dog is naturally covered with fleas
3. I need to get out of the city and experience
nature
4. Act natural
5. It may have been wrong, but it felt natural
DEFINING “NATURE”
• From the Greek Physis = To grow
• From the Latin Natura = To be born
• Nature is of its “Own Accord”
DEFINING “NATURE”
• Naturalists believe in a self defeating view:
An uncaused cause.
• Christianity believes in Two Classes of
Existence:
1. One Thing – basic and original, exists on
its own
2. The derivatives of the One Thing
DEMOCRACY VS. MONARCHY
• Naturalism = Democracy: The majority
determines society norms, right and wrong.
• Supernaturalism = Monarchy: A higher
power exists above society and is therefore
more important than its citizens.
IN CONCLUSION
• The naturalist has accepted a very limited
view of existence—he has forced himself
into a limited interpretation of events.
• The supernaturalist has more options!
• The modern atheist must at least be willing
to contemplate possibility before we can
begin to study with them. We must do
likewise.