Without Seeing Him… Studies in 1 Peter Chapter 1:8-9

They had not seen Him, yet… They loved Him They believed in Him They greatly rejoiced They hoped to obtain salvation

What would lead men to this? Testimony Hebrews 11:1 Faith is the evidence of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

There was eyewitness testimony Of Jesus Of His miracles Of His resurrection 1 Corinthians 15:6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep;

What would lead men to this? Testimony Confirmed testimony

Mark 16:19-20 So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.20. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.

Hebrews 2:3-4 …how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard,4. God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.

Secular History Supports the Record of the New Testament Josephus, Jewish Tacitus, Roman Lucian, Greek Suetonius, Roman Pliny, Roman Thallas, Samaritan The Jewish Talmud

What would lead men to this? Testimony Confirmed testimony Sensible testimony

God provides sensible answers Does biology? Does paleontology? Do the earth sciences? Do the “laws” of physics?

Psalms 19:1-4a The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.2. Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge.3. There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard.4. Their line (sound) has gone out through all the earth, And their utterances to the end of the world.

Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

NO evidence ever led one to reject the scriptures. Only a heart closed already does that.

What would lead men to this? Testimony Confirmed testimony Sensible testimony Needed testimony What else speaks to… A moral standard, A concience, A Desire to worship, A Need for hope.

1 John 1:5-10 … God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.6. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;… 8. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us… 10. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.

Acts 17:26-28 …and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation,27. that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;

What would lead men to this? Testimony Confirmed testimony Sensible testimony Needed testimony Irrefutable testimony No contradiction has ever stood up. No historic or geographic fact ever proven false. Always right!

1 Corinthians 1:21, 18 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Without Seeing Him Will You… Love Him Believe in Him Rejoice with Him And as the outcome Save your own soul?