{"id":2221,"date":"2020-09-06T18:21:43","date_gmt":"2020-09-06T22:21:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.middleburgchristians.com\/?page_id=2221"},"modified":"2024-08-12T23:01:57","modified_gmt":"2024-08-13T03:01:57","slug":"evidence-the-bible-is-gods-word","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.middleburgchristians.com\/?page_id=2221","title":{"rendered":"Evidence the Bible Is God’s Word. 25 Reasons to Believe."},"content":{"rendered":"

Click here to make a comment or leave us a message.<\/a><\/h4>\n

Reason #01<\/h2>\n

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Who was Jesus: It can only be one of 3 options! (A lunatic? A liar? Or The Lord!)<\/i><\/u><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Who is Jesus? The answer to this question is very important to billions of people (believers and non-believers alike). His influence can\u2019t be compared with anyone else that has ever existed.<\/p>\n

Believers say he is the Son of God. Others in the world say he was a prophet or just one of the great teachers. Those that don\u2019t respect the Bible might even possibly tell you that he never existed. But, almost all historians would agree that there are some facts we can know about Jesus.<\/p>\n

Most agree: that He went about teaching; that He died on a cross; that He was buried and yet His body went missing; and that His disciples shortly afterwards started claiming He had risen from the dead. They don\u2019t necessarily believe that He DID rise from the dead but acknowledge that many CLAIMED it.<\/p>\n

But who is Jesus? Have the apostles\u2019 writings been corrupted since first written? Experts in historical manuscripts admit that the writings we have today are effectively the same that were written down by His disciples. So, we can look to the Bible to decide who Jesus was. What did He say about Himself?<\/p>\n

C.S. Lewis (having been an agnostic for most of his life) became a very famous apologist (one who uses rational arguments to try to convince others of the truth of Jesus being THE LORD). As he investigated the Bible\u2019s claims, he believed there were really only 3 possible answers to who Jesus was. He was either a liar who just wanted others to believe He was someone great; a lunatic that wasn\u2019t the Son of God but believed that he was; OR He was exactly who He claimed to be \u2013 the Lord who was sent by God to save us and to be king forever.<\/p>\n

Lewis came to realize that the idea that Jesus was just a good man who had some very important insights into life is nonsense. Jesus and His apostles didn\u2019t leave any room for that kind of Jesus.<\/p>\n

In the gospels, we find people at times trying to accuse him of being a lunatic (Jn 10:20-21) and yet He always provided rational arguments and proved all He claimed. The gospels also record that people accused him of being a liar (Jn 8:39-59) and likewise it was always in the context where He proves Himself. When Jesus declared a paralytic\u2019s sins were forgiven, religious leaders effectively said \u201cYou lie!\u201d (Blasphemy, only God can forgive) and yet He proved it by healing the man (Mat 9:2-7).<\/p>\n

When Jesus speaks to Martha about whether she believes that He is \u201cthe resurrection and the life\u201d, she tells Him that she does believe and He proves He is speaking the truth by raising her brother Lazarus from the dead (Jn 11:23-27, 38-45). Jesus tells His disciples that truly they would preach to their nation and be persecuted and that God would bring destruction on their city and temple within a generation (Mat 23:26-24:2); all of which happened within that generation -just as Jesus had said.<\/p>\n

There are many other passages that show Jesus was claiming to be more than just a good man; and for anyone who is really seeking an honest answer, all one needs to do is to read a portion of the gospels and Jesus\u2019 claims jump off the page. Even with all the evidence, the Jewish leaders handed him over to the Romans to be crucified. The charge over His head \u2013 \u2018Jesus, king of the Jews\u2019 bore the truth of who He is. God\u2019s providence provided that His sacrifice would be publicly acknowledged; His claim of being God\u2019s promised King (= the Christ) would be decided in just a few short days.<\/p>\n

The prophet Isaiah had predicted that someone would come and die for sins and also that He would be without deceit (Isa 53:9). Isaiah had also predicted that this child that would be born as king and savior would be named \u201cGod with us\u201d and be described as \u201cWonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father and Prince of Peace (Isa 7:14; 9:6-7). The O.T. prophets did NOT describe the Messiah as just a man.<\/p>\n

The apostles, very quickly after the tomb was empty, speak of His overcoming death and being seated at the right hand of God. They use language clearly speaking of Him being exactly who He said He was \u2013 the King sent by God; the Son of God (Heb 1:1-3, 8-13; Col 2:9; Jn 1:1,14; Jn 10:30).<\/p>\n

It really comes down to the claim about His resurrection. If Jesus died and then rose on the 3rd day, then He must have been who He claimed to be. So much of any of what the N.T. writers claimed He said and did, depends on that one event. If He rose from the dead then everything He claimed must be believed. His resurrection is the only way to explain what happened in the first century. No other explanation fits, even though plenty have tried to explain it away.<\/p>\n

Have you honestly considered who Jesus is? He is not just a good man (a good man can\u2019t claim to be the Son of God if not true). He is not a liar (that would make just about everything He said a lie; that is pathological – that kind of lying always brings a loss of reality and saying absurd things that sooner or later become exposed). He is not a lunatic – lunatics have lost much of their reasoning ability and any who listen for more than a little while will recognize it; yet Jesus powerfully destroyed any rational argument made against His claims. What is left? Jesus is Lord and He has the authority to judge your life on Judgment Day.<\/p>\n

Are you treating Jesus with the respect, love, honor and submission that He deserves? Judgment Day is coming. Jesus said so!<\/p>\n

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about God\u2019s word and the evidences it provides, please let us know. – Greg Whipple<\/p>\n

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Reason #02<\/h2>\n

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How can anyone explain the apostle Paul\u2019s conversion? (the only answer is that he saw the risen Jesus)<\/u><\/strong><\/u><\/strong><\/h4>\n

The man known as the apostle Paul (or Saul) has confounded some of the greatest doubters of Jesus. He obviously had a very rational mind as anybody who has read his writings will be forced to agree. He also knew the Scriptures well and was in a position to understand what Jesus\u2019 disciples were claiming.<\/p>\n

He was a very educated man who had been taught by Gamaliel, a highly respected rabbi known to history. If anyone could have discovered deception in the Christians\u2019 claims (especially knowing he threatened, tortured and imprisoned) it would be Paul before he became a believer. Certainly if there were any inconsistencies in their message, evidences of lies in their claims or false motives, he would have found them. How could a man that was so convicted that the Christians were wrong change so dramatically?!<\/p>\n

A few details in the N.T. are given of Paul\u2019s life before his conversion that adds to the mystery of this great change. He described himself as living from his youth up as a Pharisee; how he was raised at the feet of Gamaliel; how he lived his life with a perfectly clear conscience; how he was advancing in Judaism beyond many of his countrymen \u2013 being more extremely zealous for his ancestral traditions and how he could publicly state that the Jews knew about his life [Act 22:3; 23:1; 26:4-5, 8-9; Gal 1:13-14].<\/p>\n

Many details were then given of his strong opposition to the gospel: how he couldn\u2019t believe that Jesus was raised; how he breathed threats and murders against believers; how he persecuted \u2018the way\u2019 to the death and punished them often and tried to get them to blaspheme; how he was enraged at them – even pursuing them to foreign cities to bind them and bring them back [Act 26:8-11; 9:1; 9:21; 22:4].<\/p>\n

We then read of his conversion: how he was on his way to Damascus (with others) to destroy Christians; how a light shown around them and they fell to their knees and a voice spoke; how Paul tells us it was Jesus speaking to him from heaven and proving he was wrong and that he needed to start preaching the gospel – eventually even to the Gentiles; and how he was struck blind and 3 days later a disciple named Ananias gave him back his sight and baptized him [Act 9; 22; 26].<\/p>\n

Paul\u2019s dramatically changed life is a witness to the truth of his claims from that point onward! We read throughout Acts and Paul\u2019s own writings: how immediately after seeing Jesus (within days!) he was in the synagogues of Damascus proclaiming that Jesus is the Son of God (in another passage Paul says: I didn\u2019t prove disobedient to the heavenly vision but kept declaring\u2026); that all the Christians were amazed at his radical change; how he was able to confound the Jews \u2013 proving Jesus was the Christ; how he was so effective that the Jews plotted to kill him; how he slipped away by being lowered in a basket; how his teaching didn\u2019t come from men but directly from Jesus by revelation; how later he went to Jerusalem and boldly preached while again his life was threatened and so they sent him off to Tarsus; and then how later, many were hearing how \u201che who once persecuted us is now preaching (in Syria and Cilicia) the faith he tried to destroy\u201d [Act 9:18-30; 22:17-21; 26:19-23; Gal 1:21-24].<\/p>\n

From there we see him beginning a fuller ministry which we read about starting in Act 13. Never turning back, always boldly preaching the same message until finally he was put to death about 30 years later. Shortly before he died, we read that he said \u201cwhatever things were gain to me, I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ\u201d [Phi 3:7].<\/p>\n

How can you explain this life? A man who can claim he lived righteously and zealously as a Jew; a man who was respected and known by many of the Jewish leaders; a man who was so motivated to destroy the church that he had a reputation that brought fear upon the disciples; a man so determined to destroy the new teaching that he pursued Christians even to foreign cities after asking authority from the High Priest. How can anyone explain a man who so radically and quickly changed his thinking, actions and alliances within just a few days?!<\/p>\n

It can\u2019t be that Paul was just gullible or bitter – his amazing teachings and sacrificial life make any claim like this impossible to believe. The only answer that really makes sense is given to us by Paul himself. Luke records what Paul said about his \u2018meeting\u2019 with Jesus on the road to Damascus in Act 9,22, and 26; explaining exactly what had caused this change in him \u2013VJesus appeared to him, proving He is the Christ.<\/p>\n

Paul explained that it wasn\u2019t just that one time that he saw Jesus, but that Jesus appeared to him several times over the coming years; how he had a vision of being caught up to the 3rd heaven; how Jesus provided direct revelation to Paul to teach; how he was called to be an apostle to witness to the truth that he now KNEW and how he had powers to prove he had been sent by Jesus [Act 22:17-18; Act 18:9-10; 2Co 12:1-7, 12; Gal 1:1-2, 6-12].<\/p>\n

Paul\u2019s converted life proves the truth of Jesus\u2019 resurrection and exaltation as the King of kings. Are you following Him?<\/p>\n

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about God\u2019s word and the evidences it provides, please let us know. – Greg Whipple<\/p>\n

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Reason #03<\/h2>\n

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The apostles very quickly and consistently claimed the resurrection (and its significance for us!)<\/u><\/strong><\/u><\/strong><\/h4>\n

LUKE TELLS US THAT WITHIN WEEKS OF JESUS\u2019 CRUCIFIXION, THE APOSTLES WERE ALREADY DECLARING HIS RESURRECTION, HOW IT WAS CONNECTED WITH O.T. PROPHECIES, AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE FOR ALL OF US. THE APOSTLE PAUL WITHIN 20 YEARS WRITES 1CORINTHIANS AND CONFIRMS IT. THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS IS ONE OF THE BEST ATTESTED EVENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY! WHY SHOULD ANYONE DOUBT IT?! DO YOU?<\/p>\n

History tells us that within 35 years of Jesus\u2019 crucifixion, there were \u2018an immense multitude\u2019 of disciples in the faraway city of Rome who were cruelly put to death simply for being His followers (Tacitus, a respected Roman historian mentioned this in about 100 AD). Other evidences outside the Bible help us to know that Christianity had spread rapidly throughout the ancient world. How can this be explained?<\/p>\n

In the Bible, Paul writes to the church in Rome around 57 AD showing that there are already many Christians in the Empire\u2019s capital and that the resurrection of Jesus was a focus of all Paul\u2019s teachings. The Apostle Paul\u2019s letters to many congregations prove that these churches had already existed within 20 years of Jesus\u2019 crucifixion. Paul\u2019s letters prove that the gospel had already spread to faraway lands; also proving that the main details of the gospel were being preached from the very beginning.<\/p>\n

Paul reminds everyone that he was once a persecutor of Christians and had believed the gospel message to be blasphemy. He mentions that his message came directly from Jesus and that it was essentially the same gospel as had already been preached by the other apostles (Gal 1:6-12; 2:1-9). Luke, the writer of Acts, even speaks of the trials against Paul and how he was accused of \u2018stirring up dissension among all the Jews throughout the world\u2019 (Act 24:5), asserting that such well-known people as the High Priest, Felix, Festus and Agrippa II heard his claims (Act 24:1-3; 25:23-26; 26:1-23).<\/p>\n

An example of Paul\u2019s success can be seen in the city of Ephesus where his enemies were complaining that Paul\u2019s teaching had succeeded in turning a considerable number of people from all over Asia away from the goddess Artemis to such an extent that they were afraid of losing their business of selling idols (Act 19:23-27). Other contributors to the New Testament also speak of Jesus\u2019 resurrection and its blessings for the faithful (examples include: 1Pe 1:1-4; Jam 1:12, 5:7-9; 1Jn 2:1-2, 3:2, 5:11-13 ; Heb 1:1-3, 7:15-25).<\/p>\n

The Bible has two books written by Luke ( \u2018The Gospel According to Luke\u2019 and \u2018The Acts of the Apostles\u2019) that speak of Jesus\u2019 ministry and of how the gospel spread during those first decades. He mentions that eyewitnesses had already recorded the life and teachings of Jesus but that he also wanted to \u2018investigate everything carefully\u2019 so that others might know the \u2018exact truth\u2019 about what they had been taught (Luke 1:1-4). It\u2019s important to note that not once did Luke have to correct anything that had already been taught.<\/p>\n

\u2018Acts\u2019 speaks of how the early church rapidly grew and spread. We read in Acts 2 that the message of Jesus\u2019 resurrection and forgiveness of sins was already being preached from the first day and that prophecies of Scripture were offered to confirm what had happened. Only that it really happened explains how the resurrection could be preached and believed in the SAME city where Jesus had been crucified just 50 days earlier.<\/p>\n

We also read that the Holy Spirit was bearing witness with the apostles through many miracles and powers (Act 1:4-5; 2:1-4; 2:33; 2:43; 4:33; 5:12 + Jn 15:26-27; Heb 2:1-4). These facts help explain how the gospel spread quickly among Jews who 1] had been told Jesus was a blasphemer; 2] being threatened to NOT follow His teachings; and 3] how Jews uncharacteristically were willing to listen to \u2018uneducated Galileans\u2019 rather than their Jewish leaders.<\/p>\n

We can read of there being over 5000 men having been converted within a few months (Act 4:4) and how \u2018the number of disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem\u2019 (Act 6:7). It\u2019s very hard to explain the incredible success of the claim of Jesus rising from the dead and being the Messiah in the very city that rejected and killed him.<\/p>\n

We can also read how Paul had powerfully persecuted Christians and yet unsuccessful in rejecting Jesus (Act 26:11). Throughout the book of Acts, we read of the apostles and many disciples continuing to preach the same gospel message and it spreading throughout the Roman Empire. The message was spreading so rapidly that it would have been impossible to make major changes to the message and have it be accepted.<\/p>\n

Within a century, the apostles\u2019 writings were spreading and being translated into many different languages, further making it impossible to claim that Jesus\u2019 life had later been turned into legend (as many try to do to explain away the claims concerning Jesus). Paul reminds the Corinthian believers about the gospel he had preached to them earlier (within 20 years of Jesus\u2019 crucifixion):<\/p>\n