Non-Christians want to know why Christians believe in Jesus.
Why we believe that He is the Creator and Savior of the world,
why we actually believe He came down from Heaven,
was crucified on a cross, rose from the dead, and ascended back into Heaven
and is going to return one day to judge the world; to judge every person who's ever lived.
The billions of non-Christians in the world,
some of whom are friends, co-workers, classmates, and neighbors,
have every right to ask, even challenge, Christians as to why we believe in Jesus.
Why we have an expectation of Heaven, a hope anchored in Christ.
It's very logical for non-Christians to ask for the evidence.
Especially, if we want them to become Christians, which we desperately do.
Though, Peter said to Christians,
"Be ready to give a defense--or answer--to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you."
Many of us, many Christians, have not always done very well
at providing reasons for why Jesus is our hope.
Sometimes, Christians provide no answers.
Sometimes we've provided illogical answers,
and sometimes our answers may be so convoluted that others are rightly wondering,
"What in the world did you just say?"
Shouldn't the average person be able to understand the reasons Christians give for being Christians?
For being committed, faithful followers of Christ?
Shouldn't Christians be able to, rather easily, give some brief reasons for their beliefs?
Whether you are a non-Christian or a Christian in need of a reminder for
why you believe what you say you believe, I would suggest to you that a real belief
in Jesus ultimately hinges on two foundational evidences.
First, Christians believe that Jesus is Divine because we believe the evidences for the Divine, for God.
If God does not exist then Jesus never existed as "God" Who stepped out of eternity
and "became flesh and dwelt among us."
It makes no sense to contend that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of the Living God, if God is dead.
If a supernatural, eternal, omniscient, omnipotent, living spirit being
is merely a figment of the imagination of man,
the first century Jesus of Nazareth was delusional at best and a liar at worst.
On the other hand, if God exists then it is logically possible that Jesus is God.
I'm not suggesting using circular reasoning to defend the Godhood of Christ.
Rather, I'm simply acknowledging the basic fact that
Christ could not be God if God does not exist.
Therefore, a person can ultimately come to the conclusion, as did Thomas,
that Jesus is "my Lord and my God,"
only if he first comes to believe that God exists.
And why should anyone believe that God exists?
Because as we at Apologetics Press discuss in many other videos,
as well as in articles and books, the existence of matter demands a Maker.
Matter doesn't simple pop into existence from nothing.
The existence of physical life demands an ultimate Life-Giver.
In nature, life does not come from non-life; it comes from pre-existing life.
That's what nature has repeatedly revealed for thousands of years.
It's the scientific law of biogenesis.
The existence of complex functional design in nature,
logically demands an ultimate Designer.
By definition, designs are preceded by deliberate, purposeful, inventive, intelligent planning;
not unintelligent random accidents.
Speaking of intelligence,
the very existence of such demands an intelligent Creator.
Since everyone knows that intelligence does not arise from
dirt, rocks, or water, much less from nothing,
what humans have consistently observed in nature is that
intelligence demands previous intelligence.
So, how did the first intelligent creatures come to inhabit the universe?
Just as the first life in nature demands a supernatural Life-Giver,
so the first intelligent beings demand a
Self-existent, Miracle-working, Creator of intelligence.
Indeed, the first, most basic reason
why anyone should come to believe in Jesus is because God exists.
The second, and final, ultimate foundational reason to believe that Jesus Christ is the
Heaven-sent, Virgin-born, Miracle-working, Sacrificial Savior of mankind,
is because the evidence indicates that the Bible is the reliable, inspired Word of God.
It would be pointless to defend the supernatural nature of Jesus as depicted in the Bible,
without first recognizing the fact that many reject the Bible
altogether as a supernatural revelation from God to man.
Billions of non-Christians around the world may believe in some sort of god,
but they still reject the Bible as being the God-revealed,
Jesus-centered, plan of salvation from sin.
Most unbelievers acknowledge the historicity of Jesus of Nazareth,
but they virtually all reject Jesus the Christ as He is revealed in both the Old and New Testaments.
The fact is, however, if an All-Knowing,
All-Powerful God exists, and there is ample proof that He does,
then such a God could easily produce written revelation for His human creation
in order that humanity could come to know
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, the Savior of the world.
So what is the proof that the Bible is of supernatural origin?
Why should an honest truth seeker come to the conclusion that the Bible is the special
revelation from the Creator of the universe,
given for the purpose of telling us about the way of salvation from sin in Jesus Christ?
In short, as we expound upon in many other videos and written materials,
the main overarching reason that the Bible can be demonstrated to be of
Divine origin is because, though to err is human,
The Bible writers were correct in everything they wrote
about the past, the present, and even the future, which is humanly impossible.
Thus, they must have been guided by God in what they wrote.
Indeed, the two most basic foundational reasons to believe in Jesus Christ are
(1)God exists and (2) the Bible is God's word.
If true, then Jesus Christ is the one and only Savior of the world.
If true, then He is coming back to judge the world.
If true, there is nothing more important to know and follow in life.
You have to make a choice about Jesus and what you will do with Him,
but be sure to make an honest informed decision.
Dig in and follow the evidence; follow the Truth wherever it leads.
I hope that the articles, books, and videos available at apologeticspress.org
will be helpful in your studies.