Apologetics

What will the redeemed see and do before the throne of God?In this sermon on Revelation 7:9-17, Dr. Toby Holt connects Palm Sunday and Passover with John's vision of an innumerable multitude from every nation standing before God and the Lamb. He explains why salvation belongs to God, how Christ's blood makes sinners white, and why heaven's greatest joy is God's presence with His people.Questions this sermon answers:1. How does Revelation 7 fulfill the imagery of Palm Sunday?2. Who are the people in the great multitude wearing white robes?3. What does it mean to be saved from God by God?Revelation 7 assures believers that Jesus wins, His redeemed will dwell before the throne, and God will wipe away every tear.Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

Can anyone stay neutral about Jesus?No one is truly neutral about Jesus. In John 15:18-27, Jesus warns His followers that the world will hate them as it hated Him. Dr. Toby Holt explains why there is no spiritual middle ground. Because they belong to Christ, the disciples no longer belong to the world, which will treat them as it treated their Master. Holt takes apart the idea that people are born neutral "free agents"; the Bible says we are by nature turned from God until He changes our hearts. But Jesus promises the Helper, who testifies of Him.Questions this study answers:1. Is anyone spiritually neutral? No. The Bible teaches we are naturally turned from God until He changes us. Everyone is on one side or the other.2. Why does the world resist the gospel? Because believers are fundamentally different, and that difference provokes hostility. Jesus said the world hated Him first.3. What hope is there for those who face hostility? Jesus sends the Helper, the Holy Spirit, who bears witness to Christ and strengthens His people to stand."If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you." — John 15:18 (NKJV)Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

Can a skeptic become a follower of Jesus?In John 1, Nathanael scoffs, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" — until he meets Jesus. In this sermon, Dr. Toby Holt shows how Christ meets honest doubters and turns them into devoted disciples.Questions this sermon answers:1. Why was Nathanael skeptical? He doubted that the Messiah could come from lowly Nazareth. His was an honest, reasoned doubt, not mere stubbornness.2. How did Jesus win him over? By showing He already knew Nathanael — revealing a knowledge only God could have. The skeptic was convinced.3. What does this show us? That Jesus welcomes honest questions and reveals Himself to those who come. Doubt is not the end of the road to faith."Nathanael answered and said to Him, 'Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!'" — John 1:49 (NKJV)Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

Is Jesus really the only way to be saved? In Acts 4:1-13, Peter stands before the rulers who killed Jesus and makes a bold claim: there is salvation in no one else. Dr. Toby Holt explains why the name of Jesus is the one name that saves. After Peter and John healed a lame man and preached the resurrection, the authorities arrested them — yet thousands believed. Asked by what power they acted, Peter, filled with the Spirit, pointed to "Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised," and declared there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.Questions this study answers:1. Does the Bible really teach Jesus is the only way? Yes. Peter says there is salvation in no one else, "for there is no other name under heaven … by which we must be saved." The New Testament repeats this truth.2. Why was this so offensive to Peter's audience? The rulers had crucified Jesus, yet Peter told them this same Jesus was their only hope — a claim that challenged their power and pride.3. What does this mean for other religions today? Salvation is not one option among many. Christianity claims Jesus is the only Savior, which is why the message both draws people and provokes opposition. "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." — Acts 4:12 (NKJV)Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

Why do people rage against God? In Psalm 2, the nations and their rulers conspire against the Lord — a rebellion as old as the human heart. Dr. Toby Holt unpacks this psalm's picture of human defiance and God's enthroned King.The kings of the earth plot to throw off God's rule, but God in heaven is unmoved. Psalm 2 is a Messianic psalm pointing to Christ, God's appointed King, who will one day rule the nations. For now, God shows patience, calling rebels to "kiss the Son" before judgment comes. "Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him."Questions this study answers:1. Why does God "laugh" at earthly rulers? Because their rebellion against the Almighty is futile. Nothing they plot can shake His throne.2. How is this psalm both political and prophetic? It speaks to real rulers who oppose God, and points ahead to Christ, the King God has installed over all nations.3. How should we respond to God's King? By trusting and submitting to the Son rather than resisting Him. Those who take refuge in Him are blessed."Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing?" — Psalm 2:1 (NKJV)Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

How does saving faith begin? In Romans 10, Paul shows that no one believes in a Savior they have never heard of — "faith comes by hearing." In this sermon, Dr. Toby Holt traces how the gospel reaches the lost, and why every believer is now sent to share it.Questions this sermon answers:1. Where does faith come from? From hearing God's Word. If you have come to faith, it is because someone shared the gospel with you.2. Why is preaching so important? Because people cannot believe in One they have not heard of, and they cannot hear without someone proclaiming the message.3. What does this mean for us? That we are now the ones sent to tell others. Having received the gospel, we pass it on."So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." — Romans 10:17 (NKJV)Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

Who is shaping the way you think? In Colossians 2, Paul warns the church not to be taken captive by hollow, deceptive teaching, but to stay rooted in Christ. In this sermon, Dr. Toby Holt presses a pointed question: who, and what, are you and your family really listening to?Questions this sermon answers:1. Why does it matter who we listen to? Because everyone is being shaped by someone. The voices we take in — from media to school to church — are forming us, for better or worse.2. What does Paul warn against? Being "cheated" through philosophy and empty deceit "according to the tradition of men," rather than according to Christ. Not every source is trustworthy.3. How do we guard ourselves? By measuring every voice against Christ and His Word, in whom "are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." "Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men... and not according to Christ." — Colossians 2:8 (NKJV)Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

What does it really mean to be "born again"? In John 3, a religious leader named Nicodemus comes to Jesus by night and hears that he must be "born again." In this sermon, Dr. Toby Holt explains the doctrine of regeneration — the real, inward change God works when someone comes to Christ.Questions this sermon answers:1. Is being "born again" just a figure of speech? No. It describes a genuine spiritual new birth — God making a dead heart alive. Something truly changes when a person is brought to Christ.2. Can we give ourselves this new birth? No. Just as no one chooses their natural birth, the new birth is God's work in us, received by faith, not achieved by effort.3. Why is it necessary? Jesus says plainly that without it no one can see the kingdom of God. Regeneration is not optional; it is essential to salvation. "Jesus answered and said to him, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.'" — John 3:3 (NKJV)Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

Are people basically good, bad, or neutral at birth? In Romans 5, the Apostle Paul explains that sin and death entered the world through one man, Adam, and spread to all. In this sermon, Dr. Toby Holt unpacks the doctrine of original sin — and why it matters for understanding ourselves and our need for Christ.Questions this sermon answers:1. What is "original sin"? The biblical teaching that we are born with a sinful nature inherited from Adam — not innocent or neutral, but fallen from the start.2. Why does this doctrine matter? Because if we are merely "basically good," we don't need a Savior. Scripture says we do; our problem is deep and requires Christ.3. Is there hope? Yes. Paul's point is that what came through one man, Adam, is overcome by another — the grace that comes through Jesus Christ. "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned..." — Romans 5:12 (NKJV)Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

Could you give a reason for what you believe?In 1 Peter 3:15, Christians are told to be ready to give a reason for the hope within them. In this sermon, Dr. Toby Holt considers some of the reasons for faith in God and His Word — and why every believer should be able to give an answer.Questions this sermon answers:1. Are we required to defend our faith? Peter says to "always be ready" to give a defense for our hope. Faith is reasonable, and believers should be able to explain why they believe.2. Does belief in God require leaving reason behind? No. Both belief and unbelief come with reasons; the Christian faith rests on solid ground, not blind feeling.3. How are we to give our answer? "With meekness and fear" — humbly and respectfully, pointing people to Christ rather than winning arguments. "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear." — 1 Peter 3:15 (NKJV)Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.