Last week we started a new series using a class format that includes the presentation, video clips, overview notes, a reflection for memorization and a Bible study in the book of Acts. This type of format will make the material and information available for those who cannot attend class in person, or for those who have missed a class, or those who want to review. This format will also help people who may want to use it to run their own small group study.

Here is the class presentation, part 2, of the introduction to a “Case for the New Testament” with the overview notes below.

Overview notes from the presentation

Why do we need to make a “Case for the New Testament?”

Reasons for practicing Christian Apologetics in our culture today

We are in a “post-Christian” culture in America today
Atheism has become the largest religious group in America
“None” has become the third largest religious preference category worldwide
Young Christians are walking away from the faith in record numbers (with only 1/3 returning as they age)

Jesus warned His Disciples:

And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. …For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.” Matthew 24:4-5; 24

The Apostle Paul warned the believers in Colossae:

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. Colossians 2:8

The Apostle Peter warned the early Church as they were beginning to face persecution:

“Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do no fear their threats; do not be frightened” But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” 1 Peter 3:13-15

“Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.” 2 Peter 3:3

Toward the end of the first century, the Apostle John wrote this warning to believers who were being infiltrated by false teaching and Gnosticism:

“I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth. Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also. As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life. These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you.” 1 John 2:21-26

The importance of knowing our Christian Biblical History:

Be able to tell the story! Use these 15 points to memorize the “Big Picture” of the Bible:

Old Testament (Old Covenant)

The Creation
The Fall and God’s Promise/Adamic Covenant
The Flood, Noah and the Noachian Covenant
The Tower of Babel and the “Dispersion”
The period of the Patriarchs and the Promise expanded through the Abrahamic Covenant
Moses, the Exodus and the Promise unfolds through the Law/Mosaic Covenant
Joshua and the Conquest of the Promised Land
The Period of the Judges and the dark days of Israel (everyone does what is right in their own eyes)
The Period of the Kings:
- The Kingdom United—under Saul, David and Solomon, and the Covenant Promise specified through David—the Davidic Covenant
- The Kingdom Divided—Northern tribe of Israel, Southern Tribe of Judah
The Captivity of Israel by Assyria and the Exile of Judah by Babylon
The Return to the Promised Land by Judah, and some of the other tribes of Israel
The Intertestimental Period—400 years of silence—God sets the stage for the Messiah

New Testament (New Covenant)

The Advent of Messiah (JESUS IS BORN)—The New Covenant established
The Church and its mission
End Times: The Apocalypse—The return of Jesus and the Kingdom comes…

The Goal = ETERNITY—New Heaven and New Earth (Rev. 21)

The Bible is all about God’s “Rescue Plan”!!!

The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed,

The New Testament is the Old Testament revealed!

The Old Covenant

At the Fall God began to show us His plan of salvation through Covenants…

Genesis 3:15 – The Original Promise and curse = Adamic Covenant
Genesis 6:18 – Passed to/through Noah = Noachian Covenant
Genesis 12:3 – Expanded to Abraham = Abrahamic Covenant
Exodus through Deuteronomy – Unfolded by Moses = Mosaic Covenant/Law
1 Chronicles 17:11-14 (also found in 2 Samuel 7:8-16) – Specified in David’s royal lineage = Davidic Covenant

In addition, there are hundreds of prophecies throughout the Old Testament pointing to the fulfillment of the Old Covenant and the coming of Messiah!

A prophecy of the Messiah and the Covenant Promise made sure:

I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. I am the LORD, that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you. Isaiah 42:6-9

The New Covenant

New Covenant Prophecy in the Old Testament:

“The time is coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers…” Jeremiah 31:31-32

The Prophecy of a Covenant Messenger:

“A voice is calling, “Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.”” Isaiah 40:3

“See I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come, says the LORD Almighty.” Malachi 3:1

New Testament Fulfillment:

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near. This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the desert, Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.” Matthew 3:1-3

Jesus is speaking concerning John the Baptist:

This is the one about whom it is written: “’I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’…For all of the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.” Matthew 11:10; 13-14

New Testament Fulfillment of the Old Covenant Promise:

Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

Matthew 26:26-28

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you…”This cup is the new covenant in my blood, do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 1 Corinthians 11:23-24

New Testament – Jesus is superior to the Old Covenant

“But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises.” Hebrews 8:6

“By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete, and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.” Hebrews 8:13

“For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.” Hebrews 9:15

“But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks better than the blood of Abel.” Hebrews 12:22-24

The Final Goal

The Kingdom of God on Earth:

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He *said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.”

Revelation 21:1-7 (NASB)

Do we throw away the Old Testament because we have the New?

NO!

Jesus said…

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:17-20 (NIV)

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”” Matthew 22:34-40 (NIV)

Paul in his letter to the Ephesians said…

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14 (NIV)

Appendix
Overview of the books of the Bible

THE OLD TESTAMENT:

The Books of Moses (Torah)

Genesis

Exodus

Leviticus

Numbers

Deuteronomy

The History Books

Joshua

Judges

Ruth

1 & 2 Samuel

1 & 2 Kings

1 & 2 Chronicles

Ezra

Nehemiah

Esther

The Wisdom Books

Job

Psalms

Proverbs

Ecclesiastes

Song of Songs (Song of Solomon)

The Books of the Prophets

Major Prophets

Isaiah – Jeremiah – Lamentations – Ezekiel – Daniel

Minor Prophets

Hosea – Joel – Amos

Obadiah – Jonah – Micah

Nahum – Habakkuk – Zephaniah

Haggai – Zechariah – Malachi

THE NEW TESTAMENT:

The Gospels

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

The Church Age

The Book of Acts (of the Apostles)

The Pauline Epistles

Romans

1 and 2 Corinthians

Galatians

Ephesians

Philippians

Colossians

1 and 2 Thessalonians

1 and 2 Timothy

Titus

Philemon

The General Epistles

Hebrews

James

1 and 2 Peter

1, 2 and 3 John

Jude

The Apocalypse

The book of Revelation

Next week we will add the books of the New Testament to our “Reflection” practice!

Reflection

Review the Ministry Statement’s four focus points for your Christian Walk (from last week’s “Class Introduction” post). Reflect on how you think you are doing in each area, or how you might make improvements.
Review the 15 points for the Bible’s “Big Picture” above. Recite and practice memorizing to tell the story.

Bible Study

(Review answers will be posted during the upcoming week)

Always remember to pray before you study and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you into the truth found in God’s Word – pray for protection from the evil one who will try to discourage, distract and deceive us.

NOTE: Questions are taken directly from the chapters, and answers should be found and cited from the Scripture text in order to be Biblically accurate (unless asked to summarize in your own words). Study Bibles, commentaries and your own thoughts can be used for “Discussion” or “Going Deeper” questions.

Read chapters one and two then, to the best of your ability, answer the following questions:

The Establishment of the Church, Jesus’ Ascension and the Day of Pentecost

1. Read chapter 1:1-14. In the first part of the chapter, the author reviews what happened at the end of the Gospels, after Jesus’ crucifixion.

a. What were some of the convincing proofs that Jesus gave to show that He had resurrected? Cross-referencing 1 Corinthians 15:5-8 and add these and any other additional proofs.

b. The Disciples assumed that Jesus would usher in the Kingdom of God right away. What did Jesus say to them about the Holy Spirit and the timing of when the Kingdom (His second coming) would be established on earth? Cross-reference Matthew 24:36-39.

c. What did the 2 men (angels) tell the Disciples after Jesus ascended into Heaven? Where did this take place?

d. Discuss: When the Disciples returned to Jerusalem they were “all of one mind and were continually devoting themselves to prayer.” Do we model this practice today? If so, give some examples, and if not, how could we do better?

2. Read Chapter 1:15- 1:26. In the second half of this chapter Peter begins to step up as a leader.

a. What did Peter tell the other Disciples that needed to be done, and what Old Testament references did he use?

b. Who did they choose to replace Judas, and how did they choose him? Discuss: Is this method something we should do today, or were they using an Old Testament Biblical principle?

c. Going Deeper: Skeptics will cite Judas’ death, described in 1:18-19, as being in contradiction to the Gospel accounts in Matthew 27:3-10; yet it is only an “apparent” contradiction. Research and discuss how Christian scholars and apologists answer this accusation.

d. Write down and share two or three things that you think are important to remember about this chapter.

3. Read chapter 2:1-13. In this section of the chapter, we find the giving of the Holy Spirit to believers, and the beginning of the Church.

a. Describe what happened to the Disciples on the day of Pentecost and how it affected the Jews from other nations that were in Jerusalem at the time?

b. Discuss: Christians sometimes disagree on what the use of “tongues” means. What does the text specifically say it was used for in this passage?

c. Going Deeper: What is Pentecost according to the Old Testament and how is it related to the celebration of Pentecost by Christians today?

4. Read chapter 2:14-47. In this second part of the chapter, Peter gives a defense (an apologetic) to the crowd for what had happened, and against the accusation that they were drunk.

a. Peter starts by using a prophetic statement from the Old Testament (2:17-21). What Old Testament Prophet does he quote, and where can it be found? (2:25-34) Peter also quotes from the Psalms. What Psalms does he quote from, and who wrote those particular Psalms?

b. Discuss: Why do you think Peter needed to quote from the Old Testament?

c. How many people responded to Peter’s sermon and what did he tell them to do?

d. Discuss: What are the four things listed in verse 42 that this first “church” began to do? Do we, or should we, model the practices of this early church today?

e. Chapter two conclusion: Write down and share two or three things that you think are important to remember about this chapter.

Join us next week as we continue our “Case for the New Testament” and a study in Acts!

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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in! Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.

Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.

Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.

Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15