Wednesday, August 31, 2022

Why Should I Believe in Jesus?


Why should we believe that Jesus is really real and alive? Well there are several good reasons to believe this. 

Once again we can mention how Christianity rapidly spread from Jerusalem and into the ancient Roman empire, being preached by the same disciples who fled into hiding after Jesus was crucified. These same terrified disciples became as bold as lions to travel as missionaries across the ancient world when they encountered the resurrected Jesus. 

The example of the Apostle Paul is also telling. He encountered the resurrected Jesus on the Damascus road and he went from being a persecutor of the early church to one of its most ardent heroes (Galatians 1:23). 

Jesus appeared to over five hundred witnesses, and it was recorded by the apostle Paul that while he was writing his letter many of these people were still alive (1 Corinthians 15:6). He in effect invited readers to go and ask these eyewitnesses about when they saw Jesus. 

Jesus of course also showed himself to his disciples on the Emmaus road, along the sea of Galilee, and to James, after his crucifixion. Given the spread of Christianity from a few thousand persecuted Jewish Christians to being the most prominent religion in the world today, the empirical and historical evidence is strong that Jesus did in fact resurrect from the dead.

Additionally, even today billions of people testify to the fact that Jesus has changed their lives. This all forms a cumulative case that we can indeed believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead.

Now it’s time for you to make a decision that will affect the rest of your life as a human being. This is a huge decision. This is something God is also drawing you toward, helping you understand and receive.

It’s one thing to see Jesus Christ and his life and think well that’s nice. But what if you jump into it. What if you decide to respond to it, and become a Christian?

Have you given your life to God? It’s pretty simple. You can do so right now.

What we want to do is this: Believe in Jesus Christ. Believe that Jesus Christ is our personal savior. That when he died on the cross he was dying to pay off your debt of sins, all your wrong doings. And believe that God raised Jesus from the dead, and that Jesus is alive and in this room right now.

So you want to respond like this… confess your sins right now to God, the ways you’ve sinned, lied, cheated, stole, hurt others, bullied others, spoken evil things, confess your guilt before God right now.

And then believe that Jesus Christ took the penalty for those sins, for you personally on the cross.. Ask God’s forgiveness for those sins right now.

Kneel down and confess your sins to God and repent of them, say Lord, I’m not doing that anymore, I’m believing in Jesus Christ as my savior now. And when you do, you’ll receive the Holy Spirit, and be born again.