What We Believe
Welcome
Thank you for checking out Apologetics University (Apologetics U)! We value transparency. With that in mind, we want share with you our mission, values, and doctrinal commitments. You don't have to agree with everything to enroll in and gain value from Apologetics U courses. But, it's important with any educational source that you're aware of their underlying assumptions and commitments.
Our Mission
Our mission is to help Christian thinkers grow into philosophically and theologically well-grounded apologists. Our hope is that such apologists will win hearts and minds for Jesus by offering a winsome yet sophisticated defense of core Christian beliefs in the marketplace of ideas.
Our Values
Here are values we hold in high esteem and seek to embody in our curriculum and personal faith journey.
- Theological Foundation: We believe Christian apologists should have a firm understanding of essential Christian doctrines, as illuminated in the Bible and unified in systematic theology.
- Philosophical Foundation: We believe Christian apologists should be good philosophers. They should use philosophical tools to analyze arguments and charitably converse with others.
- Critical Thinking: We value excellence in thinking rooted in logical analysis of reasons and arguments.
- Intellectual Virtues: We value cultivating the intellectual virtues as a means to good critical thinking and for the value they have in and of themselves for the person that has them. These virtues include, but aren't limited to, open-mindedness, courage, carefulness, humility, autonomy, tenacity, and curiosity.
- Learn by Doing: We value a practical approach to apologetics. It's one thing to listen to apologetics content, but it's another thing to practice doing apologetics. We aim to teach you how to do apologetics, not just passively consume it.
- Intellectual Challenge: We value intellectual challenges that encourage our students to stretch their thinking abilities as they reason through matters of the faith.
- Christian Virtues: We value practice, growth, and embodiment of the Christian virtues of faith, hope, love, wisdom, justice, courage, moderation, integrity, and perseverance.
- Pedagogy: We value evidence-based best practices in teaching content online and in person.
Doctrinal Commitments
We are mostly Protestants, but we welcome our Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic brothers and sisters to the table. Our content doesn't currently get into issues concerning Church history and Protestant v. Catholic debates. Why? It detracts from going deep on the core debates that are our focus, such as God's existence, the problem of evil, the incarnation, the atonement, the Trinity, and the resurrection.
Overall, our doctrinal commitments are protestant, inter-denominational. While individuals at Apologetics University may be aligned with particular Christian denominations, for the purpose of our shared mission we do not formally take a stand on issues that divide denominations, such as the correct method and timing of baptism, pre-tribulation vs. post-tribulation rapture, the existence of miracles and specific spiritual gifts in the modern era, the correct day of the Sabbath, and so on.
The Bible
The Bible is the authoritative inspired Word of God. It alone is the final authority in determining all doctrinal truths. In its original manuscripts (i.e., the autographs), it is inspired, infallible, and inerrant.
God
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three persons are one substance, co-equal and co-eternal.
Jesus Christ
Jesus is fully God and fully man. He came to earth, was conceived in the virgin Mary and lived a sinless life. He died and rose again to reconcile all people to God, and to free them from the power of sin and the devil. He will return someday and consummate the building of His Kingdom. All who are his bride shall reign with Him. All who reject Him shall suffer eternal destruction.
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son. He is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. Believers are to always seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Human Beings
People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. People are the supreme object of God’s creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin.” This attitude separates people from God and causes many problems in life.
Redemption
Man was created good and upright, but by voluntary transgression he fell; his only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Salvation
Salvation is God’s free gift to us but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith, we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into their life by faith.
Repentance
Repentance is the commitment to turn away from sin in every area of our lives and to follow Christ, which allows us to receive His redemption and to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Thus, through repentance we receive forgiveness of sins and appropriate salvation.
Sanctification
Sanctification is the ongoing process of yielding to God’s Word and His Spirit in order to complete the development of Christ’s character in us. It is through the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God that the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
Resurrection
Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead in a glorified body three days after His death on the cross.
Eternity
People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.
Second Coming Of Christ
Jesus Christ will physically and visibly return to earth for the second time to establish His Kingdom. This will occur at a date undisclosed by the Scriptures.
