~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our faith--it is not
blind. It is real. Jesus is a real man who lived amongst us, was crucified, died, and
then was resurrected from the dead by the power of God. Other non-biblical writings from 1st century TESTIFY to the
truth! (Tacitus, Josephus, Pliny's letter to Trajan, among others) Jesus is real. It isn't faith without evidence. The Bible shows us the reason for our faith, because it is based on truth.
"Our faith, quite the opposite of being "blind" is rather based on the evidence which God reveals to us in His Word, and which can be verified through research" are the words from today's lesson. It's just the simple truth that there is evidence to our faith. What we believe is true... It isn't dangling out of nothing, but it is based on proven evidence. We can't have a steady belief and live what we believe without evidence. Read what Thomas reply is to Jesus upon seeing Jesus for the first time since His resurrection: "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe." May we be driven to find the evidence for our faith--seeking the ultimate truth.Jesus' crucifixion isn't only verified through history; we also see the depth of the prophesies spoken about Him and our salvation that was to be given to us. It is by Jesus Christ that I have salvation--through His crucifixion, death, and resurrection--I am given freedom from sin, new life, eternal life, and a personal relationship with God. The prophets searched thoroughly the prophesies that God revealed to them. The prophesies PREDICTED Christ's sufferings and the glories that would be seen.
Inquiring is worthy of taking note. We need to inquire--searching the Scriptures for the truth.
God's Word and prophets prophesy about what Jesus would go through. These are only two passages that begin to share the prophesies we have been given...
Isaiah 53:8-9 says, "8By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. 9He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth."
Psalm 22:14-18 says, "14I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me. 15My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. 16Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. 17All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. 18They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment"
These verses aren't just words on the page, but they reveal the truth of what our Saviour would endure. These prophesies were made long before Jesus was born as a baby in a manger. Psalm 22 is estimated to have been written in 979 B.C, while Isaiah 53 is estimated at 711 B.C. That's quite an advance sharing of who the Messiah would be.. Over 970 years between the prophesy of Psalm 22 and Jesus' birth. The prophesies are where God is revealing details of the Messiah--the Saviour. The Saviour, Jesus Christ, who would bear the sin of the world, so that we may know Him and experience everlasting life and a personal relationship with God. It is only through His son Jesus that such a relationship can take place..
The cross was prophesied in the Old Testament, was fulfilled and recorded in the New Testament, and is historically verifiable in both religious and non-religious writings. The faith of Christians in the death of Christ rests on the revealed truth of God's Word, and can be verified historically in numerous ways."
"Our faith, quite the opposite of being "blind" is rather based on the evidence which God reveals to us in His Word, and which can be verified through research" are the words from today's lesson. It's just the simple truth that there is evidence to our faith. What we believe is true... It isn't dangling out of nothing, but it is based on proven evidence. We can't have a steady belief and live what we believe without evidence. Read what Thomas reply is to Jesus upon seeing Jesus for the first time since His resurrection: "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe." May we be driven to find the evidence for our faith--seeking the ultimate truth.Jesus' crucifixion isn't only verified through history; we also see the depth of the prophesies spoken about Him and our salvation that was to be given to us. It is by Jesus Christ that I have salvation--through His crucifixion, death, and resurrection--I am given freedom from sin, new life, eternal life, and a personal relationship with God. The prophets searched thoroughly the prophesies that God revealed to them. The prophesies PREDICTED Christ's sufferings and the glories that would be seen.
Inquiring is worthy of taking note. We need to inquire--searching the Scriptures for the truth.
God's Word and prophets prophesy about what Jesus would go through. These are only two passages that begin to share the prophesies we have been given...
Isaiah 53:8-9 says, "8By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. 9He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth."
Psalm 22:14-18 says, "14I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me. 15My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. 16Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. 17All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. 18They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment"
These verses aren't just words on the page, but they reveal the truth of what our Saviour would endure. These prophesies were made long before Jesus was born as a baby in a manger. Psalm 22 is estimated to have been written in 979 B.C, while Isaiah 53 is estimated at 711 B.C. That's quite an advance sharing of who the Messiah would be.. Over 970 years between the prophesy of Psalm 22 and Jesus' birth. The prophesies are where God is revealing details of the Messiah--the Saviour. The Saviour, Jesus Christ, who would bear the sin of the world, so that we may know Him and experience everlasting life and a personal relationship with God. It is only through His son Jesus that such a relationship can take place..
The cross was prophesied in the Old Testament, was fulfilled and recorded in the New Testament, and is historically verifiable in both religious and non-religious writings. The faith of Christians in the death of Christ rests on the revealed truth of God's Word, and can be verified historically in numerous ways."
Faith has evidence (Hebrews 11:1)… What is our evidence for our faith? For Thomas, he saw and touched Jesus' hands and feet to know it was really Him. Thomas felt Jesus' side where He had been struck and the water and blood came pouring out. That was his evidence for his faith--He saw Jesus--He knew. He experienced the truth. We have so much evidence to deepen our faith as believers in Christ. God's Word shows me the truth. Through it, He shows me the scars of his hands and feet. I can experience Him--experience His truth! Not only is there God's Word, but there are other sources for knowing what I believe in is absolutely true: Jesus died on the cross for my sins and was resurrected from the dead. I can be assured that my faith and the reason for my faith is absolutely truth…
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