Basic Course: Gospel Apologetics

12-Course Outline on Gospel Apologetics

1. Who is Jesus?

• History records Jesus, not just the Bible.
• He is God, born through a virgin birth, and human in every sense.
• He gave His life to save sinners from the punishment of hell; His blood was shed for the forgiveness of sins, once and for all time. ( 2 Cor. 5:21; Rom. 6:9-10; Heb. 9:22)

What did Jesus do, and why is it important to share it?

The resurrection of Jesus is one of three major events in His life. He proved He has power over death. Those who hear about Jesus and believe will resurrect to be with Him in the “new heaven and earth.” The destiny of the wicked is eternal damnation.

2. Jesus is God

Some churches claim to be Christian but do not accept Jesus’ divinity. These are cult religions that attract people with false gospel, cheap Christianity, and woke liberalism.

Bible verses that say Jesus is God

John 1:14
John 8:58
John 10:30-33
John 11:25-26
John 20:28
Colossians 2:9
Hebrews 1:3-9

Holy Trinity: In nomine Patris et Filii, et Spiritus Sanсti

• The phrase “Holy Trinity” is not in the scriptures. Instead, we read several passages that reflect the mystery, “God is ONE in three persons.”
• This means Jesus is both Son and God. He sends the Holy Spirit, who is from God and is God Himself. (Genesis 1:2)
• In Genesis 1:26, God refers to “us.” He said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…”

Isaiah 9:6: One of many verses that speak of the Holy Trinity

• God the Son: “For to us a child is born, to us, a son is given.”
• God the Holy Spirit: “The government shall be upon his shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor.”
• Jesus is also God the Father: “Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

→ Bible verses say Jesus is God.

3. Jesus, the Lamb of God

Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin (Heb. 9:22). Jesus’ blood washed our sins. Hence, He is called the “Lamb of God.” God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement through the shedding of his blood we receive by faith. (Rom. 3:25)

• Propitiation: The act of appeasing a deity or spirit. In the Old Testament, the lamb (or certain animals) is used as “propitiation” or “appeasing anger.”
• Total depravity: We were born sinners, and the only way to be saved is through sacrifice.
• Lamb that was slain: The blood of animals cannot remove sin (Heb. 10:4). Jesus sacrificed himself like a lamb, slaughtered so His blood can cover our sins.
• John the Baptist declared, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!”
• In strong and weak Calvinism, Jesus died as God’s lamb only for the elect.

God presented his own begotten son as a “propitiation.” Jesus became the lamb sacrifice, the greatest demonstration of God’s love. (John 3:16)

→ Why is Jesus Called “Lamb of God”

4. Why should we share the Gospel?

• Man is appointed to die once. After, we face God’s judgment. If your name is not in the Book of Life, the lake of fire awaits. (Heb. 9:27; Rev. 20:12)
• A new heaven and earth await God’s children. If you love others, you would want them to be in heaven.
• The world, as we know it, is coming to an end. Love compels us to let others know they can be saved. (1 John 4:19).
• Jesus commanded us to spread the “Good News” of salvation. (Matthew 28:19)

Sharing the Gospel is proclaiming God’s message—not converting someone: Jesus alone saves (Rom. 3:23, Acts 4:12); not by church membership, not by doing good works and boasting about it. (Eph. 2:8-9)

→ How do I become a Christian?

5. The Gospel in a Nutshell

“Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures. He was buried, raised on the third day, and he appeared to all the apostles.” (1 Corinthians 15:1-8)

It’s God’s work, not ours: Jesus said, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; I will raise him on the last day.” In Luke 24:45, “He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.”

6. ABC Gospel Presentation

The greatest problem of man is sin, and it leads to the second death. The solution to sin and death is Jesus’ blood and resurrection. Salvation is a FREE gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Jesus shall be saved.“

The greatest problem of man is sin, and it leads to the second death.

6.a) Admit you are a sinner

Do you admit you are a sinner who needs a savior? Are you willing to humble yourself before God?

• Romans 3:23 (All have sinned)
• Romans 5:8 (Christ died for us)
• Romans 6:23: (Sin is death, Christ is the answer)

6.b) Believe & Receive

Even the demons believe, but there is no offer of salvation to them. Do you believe God sent His son Jesus to save you? Are you willing to receive God’s gift? (John 3:16)

• Romans 8:1: (No condemnation with Christ)
• Acts 4:12 (Jesus alone saves)
• Ephesians 2:8-9 (We’re saved by faith in Jesus)

Like any gift, we must accept it. We cherish it by confessing Jesus is LORD. Being baptized in His name proclaims our faith.

• Romans 10:9 (Declare Jesus is Lord!)
• Romans 10:13 (Call on Jesus)

6.c) Change of mind (Repentance)

Repentance is not just saying sorry. It is a change of mind and hatred for sin. Daily repentance leads to sanctification. We do our part in living a holy, pleasing, and prayerful life (Romans 12). Without work, faith is dead. (James 2:26)

7. Five “unpopular truths”

7.a) God is Good, Holy, and Just

• God is ‘Good’ – He has wonderful plans for His children, but we must seek Him first. (Jeremiah 29:11-12; Matthew 6:24-25). Also, not everyone is God’s child. Those who belong to Jesus are God’s children.
• God is ‘Just’ – We deserve punishment for our sins. However, God is also ‘Good,’ and He does not punish us according to what our deeds deserve. (Psalm 103:10)
• God is ‘Holy’ – We should present our body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing because He is Holy. (Romans 12:1)

God makes NO apology for the coming wrath of the wicked. He will purge the world of its evil. God cannot be mocked. (Galatians 6:7)

→ How to be a Christian?

7.b) Followers of Jesus seek “daily sanctification”

• Sanctification is from God. We are sanctified in Christ as Believers. (Hebrews 10:10)
• Daily sanctification is our response to God as His holy people. We offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, our act of worship. (Romans 12:1)
• Christians walk in the light, not in darkness. We become slaves to doing what is right that leads to daily sanctification. (Romans 6:19)
• “If we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)
• A person who “deliberately sin” (refuse to repent) may not be a true Christian. (Hebrews 10:26)
• Sanctification is a cooperative work of God and Christians. For strong Calvinism, God chooses who to grant it. (Philippians 2:12-13)

→ Christian Testimony: How I overcame porn.

7.c) Boasting about good works is nothing

• Even if one can perfectly obey the 10 Commandments, our righteous deeds are like filthy rags before a Holy God (Isaiah 64:6).
• We are saved by grace alone; it is a gift, not by our works so that no one could boast. But we were created to do good by helping and loving others. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

7.d) Not everyone is God’s child

• If you are not in Christ, you are a child of the world whose ruler is Satan—in short, those in the world belong to Satan. (1 John 5:19; Eph. 2:2; John 12:31)
• Only those who belong to Christ are God’s children. He clothes us with righteousness (white robes) before God, who receives us as His children. (Col 1:17; Rom 8:17; Rev. 19:8)

“But there were people who did believe in His name. They did receive Him. God gave all those who received and believed Him the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12-13; Promises of Jesus)

7.e) Repentance is important in coming to Christ

• The Greek word for repentance is metanoeō. It means “to perceive or understand.” It is a mental activity. Jesus said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Acts 3:19; Mat. 4:17)
• Jesus used the verb form of repentance, which refers to changing one’s mind about sin. Repentance is a requirement for salvation. It comes with believing Jesus.

The thief on the cross asked Jesus to bring him to paradise. He believed. However, even demons believe who Jesus is—but they cannot repent. Fallen angels are separated from God forever. Hell awaits, and they have no savior. (Matthew 8:29).

8. What is our assurance of salvation?

• Romans 8:1 (No condemnation with Christ)
• Romans 8:16 (Spirit testifies we are God’s children)
• 1 John 5:12-13 (We have eternal life through Jesus)

9. The process toward maturity

As evidence of our faith, we strive towards sanctification. It is our response to God’s Holiness. If we love Jesus, we will obey His commandments and so “Bear Fruit.”

Believe
Receive
Repent
Declare
Baptism
Process of sanctification
We bear fruit
We disciple others

→ Checklist of a true Christian.

10. What happens when we become Christians?

• We become God’s children through Jesus.
• The Holy Spirit empowers us; there is an unexplainable joy.
• We make it a point to know more about Jesus.
• We have daily repentance that leads to daily sanctification.
• With a teachable heart, we seek God’s words every day.
• We begin to “bear fruit” and develop the “mind of Christ.
• We seek the joy of the LORD by being kind to others.
• Our heart’s desire is humility, integrity, and a thankful heart.
• We learn to walk by faith, not by sight; fame and success are insignificant.
• We seek to do good things because God’s love flows through us.
• If our faith is genuine, the evidence of a “changed life” must show.
• Sharing the Gospel has become our lifestyle.

→ How to identify false teachers.

11. Why Christianity is the only faith that matters

• The Bible is the only book that tells who God is, creation, prophecies, and humanity’s salvation. The rest of the religions are about Moralistic Theistic Deism.
• Compared to other manuscripts like Plato or Homer’s Iliad, the Bible has over 25,100 documents discovered with a 99.5% textually pure. Plato’s work only has seven surviving copies of his works. Homer’s Iliad has 643 copies. ^[CARM]
• Next in popularity, Islam was established 600 years after Jesus. Devout Muslim Intellect Nabeel Qureshi investigated Christianity for 15 years. He left Islam for Jesus.
• Christianity worships the “Living God,” while other religions have dead or imaginative gods.
• Only Jesus resurrected and demonstrated power over nature, demons, and life itself.
• Today, Jesus continues to reveal himself in places like China, Iran, and other persecuted countries through visions and dreams.

→ Why Christianity is the only true religion.

12. Daily disciplines of a Christian

• A follower of Jesus always starts the day reading the Bible.
• We make it a point to go to a quiet place and speak to God, our Father in Heaven.
• We pray multiple times daily and are mindful if we bear the 12-Fruit of the Spirit.
• We make an effort to do fasting.

The Gospel explained: Jesus restored our broken relationship with God. His blood washed our sins forever. Christ’s resurrection assures us we shall also resurrect and be with Him in heaven. We share this truth with others so they may believe and escape the coming wrath of God.

USEFUL RESOURCES:

• Is Jesus a historical figure?
• Major events in Jesus’ life.
• Historical evidence for Jesus.
• Three logic that proves the Bible is real.
• Creative ways to share the Gospel.
• How to share the Gospel through a smartphone.
• Creative ways to share the Gospel.
• Share the Gospel using the “Bear Fruit” Gospel card.
• Share the Gospel using One-Verse Evangelism.
• Share the Gospel through the “Gift of God” card.
• The Gospel in a nutshell.
• What happens to unbelievers when they die?
• What happens when Christians die?
• Is hell real?
• Righteousness comes through Jesus.