Introduction : There are two points at which the Christian gospel is attacked both from within and without. They are the supernatural circumstances of Jesus birth and that of his death. Few in our present time challenge the historicity of his birth and crucifixion. The challenge about Jesus is not whether he existed, but about who and why he was.

The current form of this challenge is relatively recent in the history of humankind. Coming for the most part during and after the period known as the enlightenment. This is the period in which western thinkers were seriously asking the question "How do I know." It was the period of De Cartes, Hume and Newton. It was the period when belief was no longer sufficient. It was the point from which critical reason had to be satisfied. It is the period that gave birth to science and the scientific method.

The enlightenment has proved to be a turning point from which there is no turning back. Once you have asked the question "How do I know" you cannot un-ask it. This initially led to a period of almost arrogant optimism when it was believed that heaven could be attained on earth by the cleverness of men. This period, called scientific optimism, was dealt a severe blow with world war 1 and its death knell at world war 2. Science proved as much a partner of evil as it was of good.

The result of this question is doubt. For some, this doubt is addressed by applying boundaries around what is permissible. Scientists do this when they will allow for no other reality than naturalism. Christians do this when they establish theological boundaries that may not be traversed and then treat any expression of doubt with disdain. Sometimes we do a similar thing by establishing norms of expression and behaviour about which any transgression is treated in a similar way. This can lead to what is sometimes called a crisis of faith. I want to speak more about this on Sunday.

For today, I simply want to put forth sufficient of a case about the easter event to give a level of intellectual comfort with the faith and trust committed to it. And perhaps also, a level of discomfort to those who are arrogant enough to think it can be easily discarded. This of course they do at their peril.

1. Easter in the first Century

• a time of fear
• a time of hope
• a time of fulfillment

2. Easter in the 21st Century

• a challenged event
• challenged by prevailing worldviews - science, tolerance, economics
• challenged at the core of its supernatural purpose

3. Source of the Challenge

• traces back to the enlightenment
• a time for the question "how do I know?"
• a time that gave birth to naturalism and reason
• a time that cannot be wound back - cannot unask the question
• a time of doubt

4. Meeting the Challenge

• refer to the work of Carl Henry - the prime interpreter of evangelical theology in the 20th century, for whom the Christian revelation is rationally consistent and compelling.
• Divine revelation is the source of all truth, the truth of Christianity included; reason is the instrument for recognising it; Scripture is the verifying principle; logical consistency is a negative test for truth and coherence a subordinate test. The task of Christian theology is to exhibit the content of biblical revelation as an orderly whole.

5. Consistency and Coherence - The Promise and Grace

• God's intention to save his people was announced in Genesis and worked out in history
• Abraham - people, land, fame and blessing
• Practice fulfillment - Isaac, Moses, Solomon

6. Consistency and Coherence - The Preliminary Saviours

• Noah - saved the righteous
• Joseph - saved his family
• Moses - saved the nation
• Judges - cycle of sin, supplication and saving
• David - the nation

7. Consistency and Coherence - Law and Sacrifice

• law binds all parties - the giver and the receiver (eg magna carta)
• law must be satisfied - (Prov 24:24) Whoever says to the guilty, "You are innocent"-- peoples will curse him and nations denounce him. But it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come upon them.
• the penalty was death - (Gen 2:17 NIV) but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."
• the OT sets this expectation - judgement on Adam, sacrifice of Isaac, sacrificial system

8. Consistency and Coherence - The Prophets

• Isaiah 53 1 to 12

9. Conclusion

• twenty minutes is too short a time to present much detail
• the challenge I leave with you is to study these things for yourself - they will equip you to defend your faith and help you to strengthen it
• finally, reason will never and can never do away with faith - there is not one person on this earth who does not in the end rest all their hope on faith - it is not the fact of faith that matters but where that faith is set.