Paratus

God’s grace is a central feature of salvation. Without grace, people can’t be saved.  As the Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 2: 8-9: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Because of God’s unmerited favor, we have access to the Father by one Spirit, with Christ as our cornerstone. Therefore, grace is an essential doctrine of the Christian faith.

Christ’s resurrection stands at the core of the Christian faith.  Without the resurrection, Christianity is nothing more than moral teachings. It’s as the Apostle Paul declares in I Corinthians 15:14: “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.”  Hence, the resurrection is a crucial doctrine to defend.  Why?  Without it, Christianity stands or falls, offering no real means of salvation.  Therefore, the resurrection is an essential doctrine of the Christian faith.

Christ’s atoning death is the heartbeat of the Christian faith, leading to the resurrection.   As the Apostle Paul states in I Corinthians 15:3: “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures.”  And it’s because of Christ’s death and resurrection that salvation is made possible for all who believe. This makes the atoning death of Jesus central to the Christian faith.   Because Christ sacrificially atoned for human sin on the cross, Jesus died for the unjust—that’s you and me, enabling God to be the Perfect Sacrifice for salvation.

If Jesus had two biological parents, then He would have been a sinner like the rest of us.  And unless Jesus was without sin, then we are without a Savior, one who can offer true salvation. Classical Christianity holds that Jesus was completely without sin, following the Apostle Paul’s statement in 2 Corinthians 5:21:  “ For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Throughout history, there’s been challenges to the veracity and accuracy of the virgin conception of Jesus, saying it should not be considered an essential doctrine of the Christian faith. Some question if it if it occurred at all.  But here’s the thing to remember:  if Jesus had two biological parents, he’d be born into sin, and therefore unable to provide a pure sacrifice to redeem the world.  The fact that His perfection is protected through Mary’s genealogy (as described in the Gospel of Luke) is a clue to Jesus’ divine, miraculous conception. 

Because a perfect God can do nothing less than create a perfect world, God created all things perfect. But due to the fall of humanity through a misuse of free will, sin entered the world, wreaking havoc. Since the fall of Adam and Eve, people are born with a sin-nature. Every human being—except Jesus Christ—has been born a sinner. And because of this, Christ’s redemptive mission is to save us from our sin and establish a right relationship with God.   Why? Because humans are unable to earn our own salvation. Furthermore, if there was no sin, Christ’s mission would not be unnecessary.  Therefore, human depravity is an essential doctrine because it deals with humanity’s need for a Savior.

The nature of Christ—that He is both human and divine—is foundational to a Biblical understanding of the Christina faith. Not only did the Old Testament predict the Messiah would be deity, but Jesus claimed to be the Messiah.   Furthermore, Jesus’ humanity is a fundamental doctrine for our salvation.  As God, Jesus had direct access to the Father; as man, He could reach to humanity, offering the gift of salvation to all who believe. 

The nature of Christ—that He is both human and divine—is foundational to a Biblical understanding of the Christina faith. Not only did the Old Testament predict the Messiah would be deity, but Jesus claimed to be the Messiah.   Furthermore, Jesus’ deity is a fundamental doctrine for our salvation.  As God, Jesus had direct access to the Father; as man, He could reach to humanity, offering the gift of salvation to all who believe.

Not only is God’s unity essential to a Biblical understanding of the Christian faith, so is His tri-unity.  The Bible teaches that not only is God one, but He is three in one.  Without this foundational teaching, Christianity loses its unique position, falling into various non-Biblical teachings. Biblical Christianity teaches there are three co-equal and co-eternal Persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.   And here’s the thing:  this doctrine is important for our salvation.  Why?  Because the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit play distinctive roles in the salvation process. 

In a pluralistic world there are many views of God, ranging from monotheism, polytheism, dualism—and everything in-between.   So, standing on the Biblical position—that God is absolutely One in His being with no separate parts—is essential.  In other words, a correct view of God’s nature is foundational to our faith, and to move away from a Biblical position is to move outside an orthodox stance.

On this episode, Dr. Holden and Professor Betzner discuss current issues facing Christians. 

Dr. Holden and Professor Betzner answer the question "Is the Bible the Word of God?"

Hosted by Brian Nixon, Dr. Holden and professor Betzner answer the question, "Did Jesus Rise from the dead?"

On this episode, Dr. Holden and professor Luke Betzner answer the question, "Did Jesus claim to be God?"

Dr. Joseph Holden, Professor Luke Betzner and Brian Nixon answer the question, Is the New Testament Reliable?

Dr. Holden, Luke Betzner answers the question--are miracles possible?

On this episode Joe Holden, Luke Betzner, and Brian Nixon explore evil, defining what it is and where it originated.

On this episode Dr. Holden, Luke Betzner, and Brian Nixon continue their discussion on worldviews, digging deeper into seven outlooks on life. 

Have you ever wondered why people do what they do or say what they say? Much of this behavior is a clear indication of the person's worldview i.e. the way they view the world. The majority of these views are largely different from the Christian worldview. Listen in as Joe, Brian, and Luke give a 'birds-eye' view of these often-mystifying and misunderstood lenses. In this first part of a two-part episode of Paratus, Dr. Holden, Dr. Nixon, and Luke Betzner discuss worldviews, providing an overview of seven prominent perspectives.

Are we here by random chance or by the act of a creator? Evolutionists do not really ask 'if' evolution happened, but 'how' which is just another way of assuming it did. But is this about micro- or macro- evolution? Listen in to find out more about this much contested topic. Joe, Brian, and Luke dive right into the heart of the matter. Don't miss this episode! [Dr. Joseph Holden, Dr. Brian Nixon and Luke Betzner ask "What About Evolution?".] https://viu.ves.edu/

A classic question of Ontology! Does God exist? How do we answer the questions 'where did we come from, why are we here, and where are we going coherently without a proper understanding of this question. Is it possible to live a life consistent with the true values of atheism or agnosticism? Listen in as Joe, Brian, and Luke discuss the implications of and answers to this question. [Dr. Joseph Holden, Dr. Brian Nixon and Luke Betzner ask "Does God Exist?". ] https://viu.ves.edu/

What is truth? Does it go away if you simply deny it? If you say 'there is no truth' is that statement 'true'? Truth is a self-defining absolute. Listen in to Joe, Brian, and Luke to find out more about the unique properties of truth and why you need more of it in your life. [Dr. Joseph Holden, Dr. Brian C. Nixon, and Luke Betzer ask the question, "What is Truth?"]

What is 'Apologetics'? Is it the art of saying 'I'm sorry?' or is it the practice of providing an explanation for something? Welcome to our weekly podcast, Paratus. Listen in as Joe, Brian, and Luke discuss the art of building relationships through the rational discussion and defense of (an apology for) the Christian faith.Dr. Joseph Holden, Dr. Brian Nixon, and Luke Betzner discuss apologetics. https://viu.ves.edu/