I appreciate a person who "says it like it is," a straight-shooter who does not hint or allude to the truth but boldly speaks it. Every man has his flaws and makes mistakes, but there should be no doubt about what he believes. In this increasingly subjective and politically-correct age, people are wary of being transparent with their beliefs. The problem often isn't a lack of thinking before speaking, but of thinking so much we stop short of saying what we really think. This hollowed version of truth does little to present a viable consideration for belief.
One thing I love about the Bible is the objective nature of it. It states how things were, are, and will be. Nature itself is governed by laws which cannot be broken. There are absolutes which are unchanging, and to alter these absolutes even a fraction (not that man has this capacity) would mean utter catastrophe. There are facts governing this world we inhabit, and one of the greatest facts is it has been created by God to be as it is. There is much evidence which points to this fact, though the evidence is hotly contested and debated.
There is a difference between facts and evidence. It is very fashionable to cite evidence as fact when evidence can only point to or support a fact. Evidence can be lost, corrupted, forgotten, or ignored, but the fact remains unchallenged: it simply is. When God identified Himself to Moses, He said "I AM THAT I AM" in Exodus 3:14. God has plainly stated in the Bible He is the unchanging, everlasting God, the Creator of the heavens, earth, and all that is in them. His existence is the ultimate fact, and the evidence is all around us. "Don't confuse me with the facts," some say in jest, and if men will be honest they must admit they have at times promoted personal opinion as fact.
The facts concerning Jesus Christ have eternal ramifications. Luke began the book of Acts in this fashion: "The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God." (Acts 1:1-3) Jesus was a man born of a virgin who went about preaching concerning the kingdom of God, healing people of incurable diseases, even raising the dead to life. He was accused by the Jews, crucified by the Romans, and was buried in a tomb for three days. Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to hundreds of eye-witnesses and supplied many "infallible proofs" of His identity (and He was indeed alive) over the course of 40 days.
Something that is "infallible" means it is absolutely certain, a matter of fact beyond debate - in the case of Jesus Christ's resurrection, it is a fact corroborated by hundreds of witnesses. Jesus rose from the dead, and there is ample evidence to support it. And this is the rub: facts alone are not sufficient to generate belief, for faith is a matter of the mind and the will. Upon hearing of Christ's resurrection His enemies did not repent of their unbelief and admit He was the Messiah. They were hardened in unbelief, and this kind of unbelief in spite of infallible proof remains to this day. I believe unbelief is common to all men, for a man may believe Jesus rose from the dead but doubt Neil Armstrong or Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon. There is great evidence to support these facts, but it doesn't mean everyone believes.
Have you considered the infallible proofs Luke spoke of concerning Jesus Christ? If the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus are all true, these facts are more practical than Newton's Laws and infinitely more revolutionary than rocket science. Jesus claimed to be the Resurrection and the Life, and His overcoming of death as He promised confirms He is the only way to heaven and eternal life. The Bible lays out infallible proofs which compel men to pay homage to God to whom all glory is due. We can be easily deceived, and the scripture guides us into the light of God's truth. This is a fact, and the evidence of transformed lives and peace despite trials among God's people is all around. The weight of evidence supplied in the Bible concerning Jesus Christ is staggering, those willing to consider it can be forever changed.
One thing I love about the Bible is the objective nature of it. It states how things were, are, and will be. Nature itself is governed by laws which cannot be broken. There are absolutes which are unchanging, and to alter these absolutes even a fraction (not that man has this capacity) would mean utter catastrophe. There are facts governing this world we inhabit, and one of the greatest facts is it has been created by God to be as it is. There is much evidence which points to this fact, though the evidence is hotly contested and debated.
There is a difference between facts and evidence. It is very fashionable to cite evidence as fact when evidence can only point to or support a fact. Evidence can be lost, corrupted, forgotten, or ignored, but the fact remains unchallenged: it simply is. When God identified Himself to Moses, He said "I AM THAT I AM" in Exodus 3:14. God has plainly stated in the Bible He is the unchanging, everlasting God, the Creator of the heavens, earth, and all that is in them. His existence is the ultimate fact, and the evidence is all around us. "Don't confuse me with the facts," some say in jest, and if men will be honest they must admit they have at times promoted personal opinion as fact.
The facts concerning Jesus Christ have eternal ramifications. Luke began the book of Acts in this fashion: "The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God." (Acts 1:1-3) Jesus was a man born of a virgin who went about preaching concerning the kingdom of God, healing people of incurable diseases, even raising the dead to life. He was accused by the Jews, crucified by the Romans, and was buried in a tomb for three days. Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to hundreds of eye-witnesses and supplied many "infallible proofs" of His identity (and He was indeed alive) over the course of 40 days.
Something that is "infallible" means it is absolutely certain, a matter of fact beyond debate - in the case of Jesus Christ's resurrection, it is a fact corroborated by hundreds of witnesses. Jesus rose from the dead, and there is ample evidence to support it. And this is the rub: facts alone are not sufficient to generate belief, for faith is a matter of the mind and the will. Upon hearing of Christ's resurrection His enemies did not repent of their unbelief and admit He was the Messiah. They were hardened in unbelief, and this kind of unbelief in spite of infallible proof remains to this day. I believe unbelief is common to all men, for a man may believe Jesus rose from the dead but doubt Neil Armstrong or Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon. There is great evidence to support these facts, but it doesn't mean everyone believes.
Have you considered the infallible proofs Luke spoke of concerning Jesus Christ? If the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus are all true, these facts are more practical than Newton's Laws and infinitely more revolutionary than rocket science. Jesus claimed to be the Resurrection and the Life, and His overcoming of death as He promised confirms He is the only way to heaven and eternal life. The Bible lays out infallible proofs which compel men to pay homage to God to whom all glory is due. We can be easily deceived, and the scripture guides us into the light of God's truth. This is a fact, and the evidence of transformed lives and peace despite trials among God's people is all around. The weight of evidence supplied in the Bible concerning Jesus Christ is staggering, those willing to consider it can be forever changed.
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