Christian Faith Apologetics

By Patmore Douglas

This ebook consists of a compilation of articles, I have written over the years. These articles, and hence this ebook, cover Christian Apologetics, with an emphasis on what exactly constitutes pragmatic faith, how to have it, and how to grow it. The writings are based on my practice of the Christian faith, which are backed up by biblical scripture. I also reference non-biblical scriptures – which is the prerogative of all Christians to do (1 Corinthians 2:14-15).

• Language: English
• Publisher: DC Publishing
• Release date: Apr 4, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215180471

Book preview

Introduction

The following is a compilation of articles, I have written over the years. These articles, and hence this ebook, cover Christian Apologetics, with an emphasis on what exactly constitutes pragmatic faith, how to have it, and how to grow it. The writings are based on my practice of the Christian faith, which are backed up by biblical scripture. I also reference non-biblical scriptures – which is the prerogative of all Christians to do (1 Corinthians 2:14-15).

A Person's Spiritual Composition

Many people believe that a person is merely comprised of a soul. This is far from correct. A person is actually composed from a large array of spirits.

For every quality and concept that exists, there exists families of spirits which govern and regulate it. E.g. there are spirits called mind and love, which provide the means by which men think and love. Without these spirits, men cannot think and love. That is why there are boundaries to everything. Men think only a limited amount of thoughts, and love only a limited amount of ways, and all these things are regulated.

The following scripture indicates that mind is in fact a spirit.

Lost Scrolls of the Essene Brotherhood

"Gracious Love, Creator of Love! Reveal the best words Through thy divine mind living within us."

There is however not just one mind which occupies man. Those who have faith are given a divine mind as is indicated in the above scripture. However, there also exists a carnal or sinful mind occupying those who don't have faith - as well as those who do have faith.

The Aquarian Age Gospel of Jesus, the Christ of the Piscean Age

Chapter 126

8 Hear me, you men of Israel! Defilement is a creature of the heart. The carnal mind lays hold of thought, and makes a monstrous bride; this bride is sin; sin is a creature of the mind.

Therefore those who have faith each has a divine mind, along with a carnal mind which they contend with. Those who don't have faith, have only a carnal mind.

The following scriptures underscore the fact that spirits govern everything, and are responsible for the behavior seen in people.

Isaiah 11

1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;

       from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—

the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,

       the Spirit of counsel and of power,

       the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD -

Isaiah 61

3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.

Jeremiah 51

1 This is what the LORD says: "See, I will stir up the spirit of a destroyer against Babylon and the people of Leb Kamai.

Hosea 4

12 of my people. They consult a wooden idol and are answered by a stick of wood. A spirit of prostitution leads them astray; they are unfaithful to their God.

John 14

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever

17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

2 Corinthians 4

13 It is written: I believed; therefore I have spoken. With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak,

2 Timothy 1

7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

Therefore, every behavior and quality that is seen in man, is made possible by a corresponding spirit in man, who facilitates this behavior / quality seen in him. In as much as men laugh, cry, think, hate, love, and do a myriad of other things, there exists within their spiritual composition, many, many spirits who facilitate these things taking place. Further, those who have faith, have a myriad of godly spirits (which make up what the Bible calls the inner man) who facilitate godly behavior. Therefore, a man is much more than his soul. A man is actually a platform for a myriad of spirits, who make possible his various capabilities.

All Things Require Intelligence For Them To Be Established

Many people (including atheists) claim that there is no intelligence behind the construction of our universe. They suggest our universe came into being by chance. They of course cannot prove their claim – indicating that their claim is merely their belief. However, the principle that there is intelligence behind the establishment of all things, can be observed around us. This principle undermines the notion that things came into being without the direction of intelligence, and underscores the existence of God, and of scriptural accounts - indicating that there is in fact intelligence behind the establishment of all things.

Now in the sphere of operations of man, you cannot get a cup, battery, car, skyscraper, or space shuttle, without them being established by agents (man) with increasing amounts of intelligence. The same is true in the spheres of operations of animals and microorganisms. Now if we see this principle existent in various aspects of our world, it is reasonable to assume that the principle exists within all aspects of our world / universe – particularly in the absence of evidence suggesting otherwise. (E.g. if we see that 1 + 1 = 2 in various aspects of our world, and in the parts of our universe we are able to observe, it is reasonable to assume that 1 + 1 = 2 everywhere in our universe.)

If intelligence is required to establish all things, it follows that intelligences matching the description of God, established our universe – since only beings with the intelligence and power of God, could do such a thing. The above is extremely important, because it underscores the fundamental legitimacy of religious texts, that contend that our universe is ruled and run by myriad intelligences beyond our direct perception – just as there are countless microorganisms which interact with our bodies, we are directly unaware.

Therefore, when people say it is irrational to believe in God and the claims of the Bible, you can point to the above and show that it is in fact rational to believe in God; and that these people’s contention that there is no God, is merely their belief, which does not hold up to reason.

Bearing Fruit

The following scriptures indicate that real faith must result in someone’s behavior bearing fruit (i.e. improving over time [2 Corinthians 3:18]), in a natural manner:

(NASB)

James 2

17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

John 15

2 "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.

Romans 9

30 What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;

It is important to realize how these fruits of (faith / the Spirit) appear in a person. Please note the following scriptures:

Galatians 5

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

1 Corinthians 13

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

The fruits of the Spirit are actually fundamental qualities (listed in the scriptures above) - and not high-level actions highly regarded by society (e.g. a person appearing to act responsibly) - found in a person's major actions. Therefore, it is not the person who works two jobs for his family, and does a lot of volunteer work who necessarily bears fruit, rather it is the person who: is not proud; does not harm others; is kind; is good; and shows the above qualities in a natural and enduring manner.

Another important point (alluded to in Matthew 7:15), is the fact that a person’s fruits are centered at his core - not on his surface. This means that someone who has faith may appear imperfect on the surface, though at his core (seen in his major actions), he is perfect.

The most reliable indicator therefore of a person's faith, is his core behavior: which is constantly good. As a consequence, it is important that you look beneath the surface of a person's behavior, to determine if he truly bears fruit.

Biblical Support That God's Kingdom is Eternal, And The Material World Is Not

One thing detractors of Gnostic texts contend or object to, is the notion that God's kingdom is separate from the material universe / world. The following scriptures indicate that God's kingdom is eternal:

Luke 16

9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

Amplified Bible

Mark 8

35 For whoever wants to save his [ higher, spiritual, eternal] life, will lose it [the lower, natural, temporal life which is lived only on earth]; and whoever gives up his life [which is lived only on earth] for My sake and the Gospel's will save it [his higher, spiritual life in the eternal kingdom of God].

36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life [ in the eternal kingdom of God]?

The following scriptures indicate that the material world is not eternal:

Amplified Bible

2 Peter 3

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will vanish (pass away) with a thunderous crash, and the [material] elements [of the universe] will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up.

11 Since all these things are thus in the process of being dissolved, what kind of person ought [each of] you to be [in the meanwhile] in consecrated and holy behavior and devout and godly qualities,

12 While you wait and earnestly long for (expect and hasten) the coming of the day of God by reason of which the flaming heavens will be dissolved, and the [material] elements [of the universe] will flare and melt with fire?

Now, if God's kingdom is eternal, this means that it will not be destroyed. However, since God destroys only wicked and deficient things, this means that God's kingdom is pure and perfect. Also, since God will destroy the material universe, this means that the material universe is wicked and impure. Therefore, Gnostic texts' contention that there is a pleroma (pure region of God) and a material universe beyond it, that is polluted with wickedness, is actually supported by the Bible. Further, the Bible indicates that the material universe contains heavens that are different from the ones inhabited by God. This fact is stated in many Gnostic texts.

Biblical Support That The Material World Is Inherently Wicked

Many Christians from the Orthodox and Protestant denominations, dismiss the contention of Gnostic scriptures, that our material world / universe, is inherently impure and wicked.

The following are examples of Gnostic scriptures which suggest that our material world / universe, is in fact, impure and wicked:

Pistis Sophia - Book Two

Chapter 100

"For this cause, therefore, herald to the whole race of men, saying: Cease not to seek day and night, until ye find the purifying mysteries; and say unto the race of men: Renounce the whole world and the whole matter therein. For he who buyeth and selleth in the world and he who eateth and drinketh of its matter and who liveth in all its cares and in all its associations, amasseth other additional matters to the rest of his matter, because this whole world and all therein and all its associations are material refuse [pl.], and they will make enquiry of every one concerning his purity.

Pistis Sophia - Book Three

Chapter 115

"Now, therefore, he who shall receive the mysteries of the baptisms, then the mystery of them becometh a great, exceedingly violent, wise fire and it burneth up the sins and entereth into the soul secretly and consumeth all the sins which the counterfeiting spirit hath made fast on to it. And when it hath finished purifying all the sins which the counterfeiting spirit hath made fast on to the soul, it entereth into the body secretly and pursueth all the pursuers secretly and separateth them off on the side of the portion of the body. For it pursueth the counterfeiting spirit and the destiny and separateth them off from the power and from the soul and putteth them on the side of the body, so that it separateth off the counterfeiting spirit and the destiny and the body into one portion; the soul and power on the other hand it separateth into another. The mystery of baptism on the contrary remaineth in the midst of the two, continually separating them from one another, so that it maketh them clean and purifieth them, in order that they may not be stained by matter."

The following scriptures taken from the Bible, actually confirm that matter /our material universe, is inherently impure and wicked, and that the Godhead lies in a truly pure region beyond it:

Amplified Bible

Hebrews 9

11 But [that appointed time came] when Christ (the Messiah) appeared as a High Priest of the better things that have come and are to come. [Then] through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not