Why I Believe!

Part 3

"WHY I BELIEVE IN THE EXISTENCE OF GOD"

So far in this study we have noticed two evidences for the existence of God. The first I called "Natural Revelation," in which God definitely revealed himself to man in and through what He has made -- Psalms 19:1-4 and Romans 1:20. The second was a look at what I called "Special Revelation," through scripture -- II Tim. 3:16-17

The third way God has revealed himself to man is through "Personal Revelation," in the person of Jesus Christ. He is a fact of history, not just a figment on one's imagination. God was made flesh in the person of Jesus, and lived amongst us here on earth. His virgin birth, miracles, death, burial and resurrection are evidences that He was both human and divine. Now to the extent of how well we understand that concept, it matters not. Just as I don't comprehend how God could have made all the universe out of nothing, but I believe it. That is called "faith," and without faith I cannot please Him -- Hebrews 11:6.

But Jesus proved that he was no mere man by the things he did and said. His incarnation (divinity incorporated into humanity) was observed by a host of people. He was not just spouting off at the mouth with unsubstantiated claims. He healed the sick, raised the dead, cured the lepers, walked on water and stilled the storm. Besides this, his own resurrection from the dead is a fact of history. There is no way to explain him, or explain him away other than to say that God made a splash into history by sending Jesus to earth. Whether or not one believes in him, doesn't change one thing about his having been here and what he did. If you want a good refutation against all the attacks hurled at him by the critics and skeptics, I suggest you get Josh McDowell's work on "Evidence That Demands A Verdict." Also a small work done by the same author entitled, "More Than A Carpenter," is an excellent work. Both of these will impress you with factual information that has to be reckoned with from an honest viewpoint. If one is intellectually honest and truly searching for answers with an open mind, he will find it in these good works.

However, my strongest suggestion is that you read the Gospels. They are a great source of information about who Jesus was and what he came to do. No one has ever successfully refuted the historical accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. They were inspired by the Holy Spirit of God to bring us a message that was untaunted by the opinions and preconceived ideas of men. Furthermore, if one is not inclined to believe the Bible -- history itself is a witness to the person of Jesus. Outside the Biblical account, a myriad number of historians attest to the historicity of Jesus, even those who did not consider themselves disciples of his. So, even though one may not be a believer, per se, he still has to reckon with the evidence of Jesus's person, his fulfillment of prophecy, his miracles, his work, his teachings, his philosophy, and finally his trumph over death by being raised, as he himself predicted. No one has ever done this before. That fact alone should impress one with the fact that he was something special. And indeed he was!

More to come!

Part 4