Southern Seminary Magazine (Vol 90.1) The Light of Truth: Apologetics in the 21st Century

interview
investigation and the antidote of truth will be virtually
palpable. When the leading principles of philosophical
systems, social analyses, popular movements, and even
a political agendum are inconsistent with the worldview
and eternal perspective engendered by gospel categories,
their errors should be exposed, warned against, and,
when fitting for the health of the church, publicly opposed.
One cannot predict what will emerge as the next
great crisis, but ever-increasing knowledge of revealed
truth as epistemologically determinative and the triune
God as the only absolute ontological foundation for reality
will be consistent tools for understanding the rapidly
flying errors and challenges to biblical faith.
Schreiner. I wouldn’t give different advice. First
Timothy 4:16 says watch your life and your teaching.
I think that is the primary thing
we still need today. Yes, we have
challenges today, but there have
always been challenges and there
will always be challenges. The best
preparation for every situation is
living a life of godliness and knowing
the Word of God.
Nettles. If one does indeed endure to the end, the only
explanation finally is that “the grace of our Lord overflowed
for me with the faith and love that are in Christ
Jesus” (1 Tim. 1:14). A God-given mate willing to endure
and share the difficulties that often punctuate the life of
a gospel pilgrim makes even the most difficult road a secure
and pleasant place to travel. Several perceptions that
might be consistent with that most fundamental reality
include: be aware of how God has gifted you and press
those gifts to their maximum effectiveness; gain understanding
as to how your gifts might be of service in the
various challenges that consistently are set forth by the
world; take the Davy Crockett summary of biblical faithfulness
seriously, “Be sure you’re right, then go ahead.”
Unceasingly cultivate a love for biblical truth and refuse
You’ve exhibited faithful
endurance to your Lord,
to your family, and to your
ministry during your years at
SBTS (and long before). What
has been the key to running
strong and long in the “race
set before us?” What piece of
wisdom would you give brandnew
students and brand-new
ministers that might help them
to endure faithfully over the
long haul during such difficult
times?
York. The only “key” I know is simply to love the Lord
Jesus. No other reward or motivation will keep one focused
and faithful. The advice I share is that by which I
seek to live, namely, that my sole purpose is to bring glory
to Christ. The Holy Spirit is not interested in making me
a better teacher, or preacher, or even a better Christian.
His great ministry is to glorify the Son, and when I ask
the Holy Spirit to help me glorify Jesus, he always answers
that prayer. It is unthinkable that the Holy Spirit would
not grant my desire to glorify Christ. When glorifying
Jesus is our passion, we always have strength to do it.
to rest in present knowledge but always “grow in grace
and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,”
through his revealed truth. Do not fear those that can kill
the body and then have nothing more they can do, but
fear God who inhabits and controls eternity.
Schreiner. Certainly, the key to any of us making it is
the grace of God! My advice is trust the Lord one day at
a time. Live a life of repentance before God every day.
Don’t worry about whether you will make it for the long
haul. Trust God today and then tomorrow and then the
day after tomorrow.
summer 2022
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