Why I Believe
In God - In Jesus as God’s Son
1. The many miracles I have personally experienced
I will try to record for PVP some accounts of miracles I have experienced.
2. The actions of those men who first followed Jesus
and later claimed to have seen Him after the resurrection.
Ten of the original disciples died as martyrs. John was banished to the Isle of Patmos. The
Apostle Paul was beheaded and Stephen (one of the first deacons) was stoned to death. Some
died by public torture rather than recant their story of the resurrection and their belief in Jesus
of Nazareth as the Son of God and the promised Messiah. All dedicated their lives to the Gospel
of Christ. Who would do such for a story they knew to be false? There was certainly nothing
for them to gain (in this world) and constant persecution to suffer.
3. The amazing accuracy of the ancient Bible prophecies
I’ve listed just some of the prophecies of Messiah.
See the links at the end of this article.
4. Recent discoveries in genetics, cell biology, geology, paleontology and physics,
which fit well with a young earth creation scenario.
See our Recommended Reading and Resources page at prophecyviewpoint.com.
5. Discoveries in archeology
See our Recommended Reading and Resources page at prophecyviewpoint.com.
6. The actions of Christ as recorded in the Gospels.
The Gospels are about the man, and who He claimed to be - the only way to God and life
eternal.
He knew his claims and his growing popularity, would soon get him killed. He knew that
Jerusalem was the most dangerous place for him, yet he did not stay away or keep his voice
down. Just the opposite.
He disbanded any large gathering around him, or simply walked away quietly. Not the action
of one planning a rebellion against the ruling government. He told his followers to obey their
masters, to obey the legal authorities and to pay their taxes. Not the words of a revolutionary.
He taught against taking up arms.
You could write him off as a deluded lunatic martyr. Perhaps. But his teachings and
parables seem rather sane and balanced. His parables were often disguised criticism of the ruling
elites - something one does to avoid being martyred. And according to the Gospel writers, he
begged God to be excused from a painful martyr’s death.
Was he seeking fame for it’s own sake? Did he wish to be thought of as a great prophet like
Elijah, or Samuel, or Isaiah, his words preserved for a thousand years? Possibly. But if so, why
claim to be the promised Messiah? If he failed to bring in the promised freedom and restoration
of Israel, his claim would most probably go nowhere, and his fame would fade as quickly as his
decaying body. The fact that his fame did not fade, but rather has grown, is another proof of his
identity.
He just doesn’t fit the profile of a deceiver, a lunatic, an egomaniac, or a revolutionary. That
leaves his claim to be the only Son of God. But how to confirm that claim?
He prophesied His resurrection - on the third day following His death. If that prophesy was
fulfilled - if he actually rose from the dead - his claims (concerning His identity) would be
confirmed.
And that leads to the evidence for His resurrection. Is there enough evidence? I say yes.
There is.
Many Blessings Always
Rachel Cory-Kuehl
Links:
Prophecies of Messiah
Support for the Resurrection Story
What Jesus Claimed - about Himself