In this engaging discussion, Stephen Nichols, President of Reformation Bible College and teaching fellow at Ligonier Ministries, delves into the essential role of apologetics in defending the Christian faith. He connects the historical battles of J. Gresham Machen against liberalism to modern challenges faced by believers. Nichols highlights the importance of reasoned arguments, the credibility of Christ's resurrection, and the need for spiritual fulfillment in today’s world. Youth engagement and upcoming events are also celebrated.
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Defining Apologetics
Apologetics, derived from Greek, means "to speak to" or "a reasoned defense."
It involves rationally defending the Christian faith, not apologizing for it.
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Apologetics and Scripture
J. Gresham Machen believed apologetics is not just commanded in Scripture, but essential to its nature.
The New Testament itself defends Jesus as the God-man and His redemption work.
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Machen's Apologetic Approach
Machen's apologetic approach doesn't initially assert the Bible's inerrancy.
Instead, he argues for God's existence, Christ's resurrection, and then the Bible's truthfulness.
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In this book, Machen presents a robust defense of Christian orthodoxy and a strong critique of theological liberalism. He argues that liberalism, grounded in naturalism, rejects the supernatural elements of Christianity and reinterprets traditional doctrinal beliefs in metaphorical categories. Machen examines key doctrines such as the Bible, Christ, salvation, and the church, highlighting the antithetical nature of liberalism to historic Christianity. He emphasizes that liberalism is not merely a different interpretation of Christianity but a distinct and non-Christian system of thought[2][3][4].
The virgin birth of Christ
J. Gresham Machen
In this book, J. Gresham Machen delves into the historical and theological aspects of the virgin birth of Jesus Christ. He investigates the origin of this belief within the Christian Church, considering whether it is based on fact or alternative explanations. The book includes chapters on the birth narratives in the Gospels of Luke and Matthew, their credibility, and their relation to secular history and the rest of the New Testament. Machen also discusses alternative theories such as Jewish and pagan derivations.
The Donkey Who Carried a King
R.C. Sproul
The Week That Changed the World
The Week That Changed the World
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R.C. Sproul
The origin of Paul's religion
J. Gresham Machen
Apologetics is the defense of the Christian faith. This discipline was crucially important to J. Gresham Machen. Today, Stephen Nichols explores Machen’s approach to exposing unbiblical teaching and defending the truth of the gospel.
For your donation of any amount, request J. Gresham Machen’s classic book, Christianity and Liberalism. You’ll also receive Stephen Nichols’ teaching series on DVD, plus lifetime digital access to the messages and study guide: https://gift.renewingyourmind.org/3976/donate Live outside the U.S. and Canada? You can get Christianity and Liberalism as an ebook, plus lifetime digital access to the teaching series and study guide, for a donation of any amount: https://www.renewingyourmind.org/global For a limited time, receive the lowest rate when you register for Ligonier’s 2026 National Conference: https://www.ligonier.org/2026 Meet Today’s Teacher: Stephen Nichols is president of Reformation Bible College, chief academic officer for Ligonier Ministries, and a Ligonier Ministries teaching fellow. He is host of the podcasts 5 Minutes in Church History and Open Book. Meet the Host: Nathan W. Bingham is vice president of ministry engagement for Ligonier Ministries, executive producer and host of Renewing Your Mind, and host of the Ask Ligonier podcast.
Renewing Your Mind is a donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts
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