Contending for Christ Through the Creed: Apologetics for Loving Answers on the Christian Faith - Paperback

by Alfonso Espinosa (Author), Uwe Siemon-Netto (Foreword by)

Holy Scripture directs all Christians to contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints (Jude 3). Unfortunately, all too often the Christian resorts to defensiveness that amounts to becoming contentious, which is contrary to the way of Jesus Christ. Engaging for Christ requires both gentleness and respect (1 Pet 3:15). But where to begin? In this unique approach to cultural apologetics, Alfonso Espinosa employs the outline of the ancient Apostles' Creed. Creedal organization not only demonstrates the timeless and enduring relevance of the Christian faith, but it also puts forth a logical and systematic approach to Christian apologetics. Such a method is first immensely personal since the Creed begins with "I believe." At the same time, however, it does not perpetuate the hyper self-centeredness of our age but presents the outward orientation to consider the importance of creation, Christ-centered salvation, and the churchly context of the work of the Holy Spirit. In all this apologetic clarification, important answers to the faith once delivered are offered so that comfort is had not in religious ambiguity and subjectivism, but rather in the objective foundation of truth that endures, truth that we can contend for.

Author Biography

Alfonso Espinosa is the senior pastor at St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Irvine, California (LCMS). He has authored the Faith and Culture series including Faith That Shines in the Culture (2023). Espinosa has an MDiv from Concordia Theological Seminary, an MA in Christian apologetics from Biola University, La Mirada, and a PhD in theology from the University of Birmingham, England. He serves as chair of the board for National Mission of the LCMS. He and his wife Traci have been blessed with eleven grandchildren.