Why I Believe In Jesus Christ
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” - John 3.16
“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” - John 3.18
Fulfilled Prophecy The apostles appealed to Messianic prophecy Acts 3.18 Acts Some examples of Messianic prophecies 1.Genesis 3.15; 12.3; Deuteronomy 18.15, Isaiah 7.14; 40.3; Psalm Daniel
What’s the significance? Prophecies help to identify the true Messiah. There are over 330 OT prophecies... Jesus fulfilled every one! What are the odds of that happening? 1x10 17 = 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000 To fulfill just 8 prophecies!
What’s the significance? Prophecies help to identify the true Messiah. What about fulfilling 48 prophecies? 1x = 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 Jesus fulfilled all 330 Old Testament prophecies!
Apostolic Testimony The Apostles claimed to be eyewitnesses Acts Peter John Were they true witnesses? Or are they false witnesses? 1 Corinthians Did they devise cunning fables? Or are they telling the truth?
Apostolic Testimony Apostolic claims after the resurrection of Jesus... 1.They ate and drank with Jesus - Acts They saw and touched Jesus - 1 John Were these grief induced hallucinations? Or are they true accounts? What about the 500+ other witnesses in 1 Corinthians ? Were they all having the exact same hallucination simultaneously?
What’s the significance? If the apostolic testimony is FALSE then... The New Testament is a carefully orchestrated lie! The apostles suffered extreme hardship for what they knew was a lie! - 1 Corinthians Those martyred knew they were dying for a lie! They went against everything Jesus and they themselves taught! - 1 Peter 2.1
What’s the significance? But if the apostolic testimony is TRUE then... 1.Everything they taught about Jesus is TRUE! Jesus is the Son of God! (Romans 1.4) Jesus has all authority! (Matt ; Acts 2.36) 2. Every recorded teaching of Jesus is TRUE!
Truths of Jesus’ teachings He was from the Father above, and spoke the words of the Father (John ) He came to offer abundant life (John 10.10) No one can come to the Father but through Him (John 14.6) He went to prepare a place for us (John 14.2) He shall come again (John 14.3) There will be a resurrection of the dead and ensuing judgment (John ; 12.48) His blood was shed for the remission of sins (Matthew 26.28)
“There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus” - C. S. Lewis
Jesus answered them, and said, “My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” -John
Jesus saith unto him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” - John 14.6