https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Examining-Christianity.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n\tby Jeffrey W. Hamilton<\/p>\n\t
Text: II Corinthians 13:1-8<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I. Most religions in the world surround themselves in mysteries<\/p>\n
A. Followers are asked to accept things without full knowledge<\/p>\n
B. Only a select few are granted special insight<\/p>\n
C. But God’s teachings are not like these religions<\/p>\n
1. God challenges us to reason about the evidence available – Isaiah 41:21<\/p>\n
2. His followers are urged to explain their beliefs to others – I Peter 3:15<\/p>\n
II. Faith is required<\/p>\n A. Often people think that when there is no evidence or when you are faced with\ncontradictory evidence, then faith must be used\n
1. As a result there are religions based on empty irrationalism<\/p>\n
2. For example in most charismatic groups<\/p>\n
a. Closely examining claims is discouraged<\/p>\n
b. To ask for proof is to show a lack of faith<\/p>\n
B. Christianity is rational<\/p>\n
1. It is based on the fact of Jesus and his life – I John 1:1-4<\/p>\n
2. Witnesses confirmed the evidence – John 5:31-47<\/p>\n
C. Faith is not the filler used for a lack of knowledge<\/p>\n
1. Faith is the conclusion drawn from the evidence found – Hebrews 11:1<\/p>\n
2. We don’t hide from factual proofs but show them for examination<\/p>\n
III. But doesn’t this remove the Holy Spirit’s work?<\/p>\n
A. The question comes from a misunderstanding of the Holy Spirit and his work<\/p>\n
B. It is man who has difficulty facing facts – I Corinthians 2:12-14<\/p>\n
C. The Spirit’s duty includes convicting the world – John 16:7-8<\/p>\n
1. He convinces people that sin exists and that they are guilty of sin<\/p>\n
2. He convinces people that there is a right way to live life<\/p>\n 3. He convinces people that the choices they make matter because they will\nbe judged regarding their choices\n D. The gospel, which comes from the Spirit, is the manifestation of truth – II\nCorinthians 4:1-6\n 1. When a person is converted to Christianity, it involves hearing the truth\nand accepting it – Acts 16:14-15\n 2. It is the truth found in the gospel that is the tool the Holy Spirit uses to\nconvict mankind – I Peter 1:22-25\n E. Many find the message given to be foolish – not because it is unreasonable but\nbecause it is not what people want to hear – I Corinthians 1:18-25\n
IV. Today’s ideas of faith versus the New Testament demonstration of faith<\/p>\n
A. Today, a person must have faith for a miracle to occur<\/p>\n
1. Thus, any failure in a “miracle” is blamed on a lack of faith<\/p>\n
2. When news of a “miracle” is spread, it is always by third-hand accounts<\/p>\n
3. If you ask for verifiable proof, you are accused of lacking faith<\/p>\n
B. Compare this to Christ<\/p>\n
1. Healing the blind man in John 9:1-41<\/p>\n
a. The healing was a fact, acknowledged by even the unbelievers<\/p>\n
b. It stood up under close scrutiny<\/p>\n
c. The question came down to the source of the miracle<\/p>\n
d. This is what faith is – the conclusion drawn from the evidence<\/p>\n
2. The raising of Lazarus – John 12:9-11<\/p>\n
a. The fact that Lazarus was raised is undeniable <\/p>\n
b. But the leaders plotted to kill Lazarus to remove the evidence<\/p>\n c. Because people were believing in Jesus and that couldn’t be\nallowed\n
V. The world may be surprised to learn that Christianity stands on solid ground<\/p>\n
A. It is a house build on a rock – Matthew 7:24-25<\/p>\n
B. Without a fear of God, there is no starting point for knowledge – Proverbs 1:7<\/p>\n
1. Consider that public schools refuse to admit God in the classrooms<\/p>\n
2. Yet, they want moral behavior without a source<\/p>\n
3. Is it a wonder that it breaks down?<\/p>\n C. The church is charged with putting the truth on display so that the world will\nchange – I Timothy 3:14-16\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Corinthians 13:1-8 I. Most religions in the world surround themselves in mysteries A. Followers are asked to accept things without full knowledge B. Only a select few are granted special insight C. But God’s teachings are not like these religions 1. God challenges us to reason about the evidence available – Isaiah 41:21…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[119,32],"tags":[642,709,49],"class_list":["post-61360","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-audio","category-sermon","tag-christianity","tag-evidence","tag-faith"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":91676,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/did-christianity-steal-from-pagan-religions\/","url_meta":{"origin":61360,"position":0},"title":"Did Christianity Steal from Pagan Religions?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 30, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Erik Borlaug Did Christianity steal its ideas from pagan religions? Skeptics often claim that the story of Jesus-His virgin birth, His miracles, even His resurrection-was borrowed from earlier myths about \"dying and rising gods.\" But is that really true? In this video, Erik Borlaug examines the claim that Christianity\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Video"","block_context":{"text":"Video","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/video\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":83915,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/are-all-religions-right\/","url_meta":{"origin":61360,"position":1},"title":"Are All Religions Right?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 31, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Perry Hall I needed another car, so I did a test drive. Somehow, I managed to turn the discussion to the religious. He grew up as a Christian, married a Muslim, and said they are all the same because everyone worships the same God and are good people. 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Second, this assumes that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/war.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":34621,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-can-you-distinguish-between-the-real-and-the-make-believe\/","url_meta":{"origin":61360,"position":3},"title":"How can you distinguish between the real and the make-believe?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 1, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Alright, how do we know that religion, in general, is not just our mind playing tricks on us? This has been bothering me badly now. I didn't know if you had an answer or not. For example, I had terrible anxiety problems. 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Answer: You\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":29639,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/when-the-fullness-of-time-had-come\/","url_meta":{"origin":61360,"position":5},"title":"When the Fullness of Time Had Come","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 7, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"by Wayne Chamberlain Sentry Magazine, December 2002 Throughout history, God has used natural events, nations, cultures, individuals, and even beasts to facilitate and accomplish the fulfillment of His will. 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