Absolute truth
First question every Christian should ask and answer.
Lesson 9 · Course 65
10 Questions Every Christian Must Answer
Absolute truth, origins, and whether the heathen are lost — with the reading Are the Heathen Really Lost?
At a glance
Summary
Start with absolute truth and “why something rather than nothing.” Creationism’s critics say it is untestable/unobservable/unpredictable; the past is not infinite; whatever begins has a cause; the universe’s size and complexity argue against accident. Darwinian theory is not specific, guided, and unified in purpose as the False stem claimed. Universalists do not merely believe “most” eventually go to heaven (Moodle False). Barth embraced “biblical universalism.” Conscience is an inborn sense of right and wrong from inward awareness of God.
Quiz 9: 9/10 (90%), 7m 17s, cmid 1193 / attempt 101995. Essays Complete/Not graded. Reading: Are the Heathen Really Lost? Miss: Q8 Universalists “most people” (chose True; Moodle False).
Big ideas
What to teach and remember
- First question: Is there absolute truth?
- Origins: Why is there something rather than nothing?
- Critics of Creationism: not scientific because not testable, observable, predictable.
- The past is not infinite; whatever begins to exist has a cause.
- Universe too large/complex to be accident.
- Darwinian theory is NOT specific, guided, with strict unity of purpose (False).
- Universalists do NOT believe merely that most people eventually go to heaven (False — miss if True).
- Karl Barth embraced “biblical universalism.”
- Conscience = inborn right/wrong from inward awareness of God.
- Scripture: outside Christ people are lost; salvation only in Jesus.
Key terms
People, places, and words that matter
Universalism
All eventually saved; Moodle False that they believe only “most” go to heaven.
Biblical universalism (Barth)
Karl Barth’s phrasing embraced in this lesson’s True item.
Conscience
Inborn sense of right and wrong from inward awareness of God.
Are the heathen really lost?
Reading focus — Scripture answers yes apart from Christ.
Structure
Outline / timeline
- Absolute truth and origins questions
- Creationism vs critics; causality and complexity
- Darwinian claim corrected
- Universalism, Barth, conscience
- Ten questions list; Scripture on the lost
Must remember
Facts to keep straight
| Quiz 9 | 90% (9/10), cmid 1193 — miss Q8 Universalists “most” |
|---|---|
| First question | Is there absolute truth? |
| Origins | Why something rather than nothing? |
| Past infinite? | False |
| Universalists Q8 | False that “most” eventually go to heaven |
| Barth | Embraced biblical universalism |
Compare
Side-by-side contrasts
Universalist hope vs Scripture’s answer
- Universalist: all (or, wrongly on the miss stem, “most”) eventually heaven; other standards/opportunities
- Scripture: lost apart from Christ; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; conscience suppressed
For the pulpit
Sermon hooks
- Start with absolute truth before you argue origins or ethics.
- Preach the ten questions as a discipleship checklist, not a trivia list.
- Hold the lostness of those without Christ with tears and clarity — sincerity is not a substitute for the Son.
- Flag the miss: universalism is “all,” not “most.”
Quiz drill
Quiz drill / review · open to practice · 10 items
Quiz score: 90% · 1 attempt
1. The first question that a Christian should ask (and answer) is: Is there such a thing as absolute truth?
TrueAbsolute truth is first.
2. With respect to the origin of the universe, a critical question is: Why is there something rather than nothing?
TrueSomething rather than nothing.
3. Critics of Creationism argue that it is not scientific because it is not testable, does not use an observable entity, and is not predictable.
TrueCritics’ three charges.
4. The past is infinite.
FalseThe past is not infinite.
5. Whatever begins to exist has a cause to its existence.
TrueBegins → cause.
6. Because the universe is so large and so complex it could not have come into existence by accident.
TrueNot by accident.
7. Darwinian evolutionary theory is specific, guided, and maintains that all living things have a strict unity of purpose.
FalseNot specific/guided/unity of purpose as stated.
8. Universalists believe that eventually most people will go to heaven.
FalseMiss / partialMiss: chose True; Moodle False — not “most.”
9. Karl Barth embraced what he called a ‘biblical universalism.’
TrueBarth’s biblical universalism.
10. Conscience is an inborn sense of right and wrong that comes from an inward awareness of God.
TrueInborn conscience from awareness of God.
Essay themes
If you preach or review
From the skeptic or universalist perspective, are the heathen really lost?
From the skeptic or universalist perspective, the heathen are not necessarily lost. Universalists believe all people will eventually go to heaven, including those who have never heard of Jesus, because God is loving and fair. They argue that such people may be judged by a different standard, given another opportunity after death, or accepted because of sincere worship. Some even minimize the severity of God’s judgment or deny hell.
List the ten questions every Christian must answer
1. Is there such a thing as absolute truth?
2. How can I know there is a God?
3. Where did the universe come from?
4. Is the Bible reliable?
5. Is Jesus the only way?
6. Are the claims of Jesus’ physical resurrection from the dead valid?
7. Are the heathen really lost?
8. Is hell a real place that lasts for eternity?
9. Must a person believe in Jesus or make Him Lord of his life to be saved?
10. How detailed is God’s wonderful plan for each individual life?
Scripture’s answer: are people outside the church lost?
Scripture answers that people outside the church are lost because salvation is found only in Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). All people are sinners, and those who have not heard still have an inborn knowledge of God and a conscience witnessing to right and wrong, yet they suppress and reject that knowledge. Sincerity, sacrifice, or religious practice cannot substitute for Christ; only those who believe in Him receive eternal life.