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In the Christian Faith |
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 Reason
One... |
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The Credibility of its Founder
Christ said He came from heaven to fulfill prophecy, to die for our sins, and
to bring to His Father all who believe in Him. Logic says that He was either
a liar, a lunatic, a legend, or the Lord of heaven. His first-century
followers drew their own conclusions. They said they saw Him walk on water,
still a storm, heal crippled limbs, feed 5,000 with a few pieces of bread and
fish, live a blameless life, die a terrible death, and alive again. During
His ministry, when some of Jesus' followers took issue with His teachings and
left, He asked those closest to Him if they too wanted to leave. Peter spoke
for the others when he said, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words
of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the
Christ, the Son of the living God"
(John 6:68-69).
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Reason
Two... |
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The Reliability of its Book
Written over a period of about 1,600 years by 40 different authors, the book
on which the Christian faith rests tells one story that begins with creation
and concludes on the threshold of eternity. The integrity of its historical
and geographical record is supported by archeology. The accuracy with which
it has been copied and handed down to us has been confirmed by the Dead Sea
Scrolls of Qumran. Originating neither in the East nor the West, but in the
Middle East--the cradle of civilization--the Bible continues to speak not
only with spiritual power but with convincing prophetic accuracy.
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Reason
Three... |
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Its Explanations for Life
All religious systems attempt to give meaning to our existence. All attempt
to explain our thirst for significance, the problem of pain, and the
inevitability of death. All religions attempt to apply the design of the
cosmos to our individual lives. It is the Christian faith, however, that
reflects the caring attention to detail so evident in the species and
ecosystems of the natural world. It is Christ who speaks of a Father who
takes note of every sparrow that falls, a Father who numbers even the hairs
of our head (Matthew
10:29-31). It is Christ who reveals a God who shows how much He cares for
all that He has created. It is Christ who clothed Himself in our humanity to
feel what we feel, and then to suffer and die in our place. It is Christ who
reveals a God who cares as much about His creation as the design and detail
of the natural world indicates (Psalms
19:1-6;
Romans 1:16-25).
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Reason
Four... |
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Its Continuity With the Past
The Christian faith offers continuity with our deepest ancestral roots. Those
who trust Christ are accepting the same Creator and Lord worshiped by Adam,
Abraham, Sarah, and Solomon. Jesus didn't reject the past. He was the God of
the past (
John 1:1-14). When He lived among us, He showed us how to live according
to the original plan. When He died, He fulfilled the whole Old Testament
sacrificial system. And when He rose from the dead, the salvation He offered
fulfilled God's promise to Abraham that through his descendant He would bring
blessing to the whole world. The Christian faith is not new with Christ. From
Genesis to Revelation it is one story. It is His story -- and ours (Acts
2:22-39;
1 Corinthians 15:1-8).
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Reason
Five... |
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Its Foundational Claim
The first Christians were not driven by political or religious dissent. Their
primary issues were not moral or social. They were not well-credentialed
theologians or social philosophers. They were witnesses. They risked their
lives to tell the world that with their own eyes they had seen an innocent
man die and then miraculously walk among them 3 days later (Acts
5:17-42). Their argument was very concrete. Jesus was crucified under the
Roman governor Pontius Pilate. His body was buried and sealed in a borrowed
tomb. Guards were posted to prevent grave tampering. Yet after 3 days the
tomb was empty and witnesses were risking their lives to declare that He was
alive.
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Reason
Six... |
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Its Power to Change Lives
Not only were the first disciples dramatically changed, but so was one of
their worst enemies. Paul was transformed from a Christian killer into one of
their chief advocates (Galatians
1:11-24). Later he reflected the changes that had occurred in others as
well when he wrote to the church in Corinth, "Do not be deceived: Neither the
sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor
homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers
nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you
were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ" (1
Cor. 6:9-11).
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Reason
Seven... |
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Its Analysis of Human Nature
The Bible says that society's real problems are problems of the heart. In an
age of information and technology, failures of character have scandalized
institutions of family, government, science, industry, religion, education,
and the arts. In the most sophisticated society the world has ever known, our
national reputation is marred by problems of racial prejudice, addiction,
abuse, divorce, and sexually transmitted disease. Many want to believe that
our problems are rooted in ignorance, diet, and government. But to our
generation and all others, Jesus said, "For out of the heart proceed evil
thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness,
blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man" (Matthew
15:19-20).
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Reason
Eight... |
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Its View of Human Achievement
Generation after generation has hoped for the best. We fought wars
that would end all wars. We developed educational theories that would produce
enlightened, nonviolent children. We conceived technologies that would
deliver us from the oppressive slavery of work. Yet we are as close as ever
to what the New Testament describes as an endtime marked by wars and rumors
of war, earthquakes, disease, loss of affection, and spiritual deception (Matthew
15:19-20;
Timothy 3:1-5).
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Reason
Nine... |
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Its Impact on Society
A carpenter rabbi from Nazareth changed the world. Calendars and dated
documents bear silent witness to His birth. From rooftops, necklaces, and
earrings, the sign of the cross bears visual witness to His death. The
Western world-view, which provided a basis for social morality, scientific
methodology, and a work ethic that fueled industry, had roots in basic
Christian values. Social relief agencies, whether in the West or East, are
not fueled by the values of Hinduism, Buddhism, atheism, or secular
agnosticism, but by the direct or residual values of the Bible.
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Reason
Ten... |
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Its Offer of Salvation
Alternative religious views have saviors who remain in the grave. No other
system offers everlasting life as a gift to those who trust One who has
overcome death for them. No other system offers assurance of forgiveness,
eternal life, and adoption into the family of God by calling on and trusting
Someone in the same way a drowning person calls for and relies on the rescue
of a lifeguard (Romans
10:9-13). The salvation Christ offers does not depend on what we have
done for Him, but on our acceptance of what He has done for us. Instead of
moral and religious effort, this salvation requires a helpless admission of
our sins. Instead of personal accomplishments of faith, it requires
confession of failure. Unlike all other options of faith, Christ asks us to
follow Him -- not to merit salvation but as an expression of gratitude, love,
and confidence in the One who has saved us (Ephesians
2:8-10).
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The
Truth! - Freedom |
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You're not alone if you are unconvinced that
Christ is all He claimed to be. But keep in mind that He promised God's help
to those who have good reasons for their questions. He said, "If anyone
chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether My teaching comes from God
or whether I speak on My own" (John
7:17 NIV). Here Jesus reminds us that we see things not only as they are,
but as we are.
If you do see the reasonableness of faith in
Christ, keep in mind that the Bible says to the family of God, "For by grace
you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift
of God, not of works [religious efforts and accomplishments], lest anyone
should boast"
Ephesians 2:8-9. The salvation Christ offers is not a reward for
religious effort but a gift to all who put their trust in Him.
Again, who is Jesus to you? To find out
the truth, click
more...
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The
Lie! - Bondage |
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By
the way, if what you believed about Jesus, God, eternal life, the Bible or
whatever was not true, would you want to know?
Would you want to know the Truth, to examine the evidence and make an
informed decision about very weighty matters?
Or, would you be content with simply believing the Lie?
The choice, as always, is yours.
more...
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