Bible Study August 30, 2012

Hey Gang,


We continue this week in our study of Apologetics with our series of lessons entitled The Case for Jesus. This week we try to make sense of this thing we call faith. 

What does Indiana Jones teach us about Faith?

A Leap of Faith 
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In Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Harrison Ford and others are in pursuit of finding the Holy Grail that will give eternal life, but Indy must pass 3 challenges to what he believes to reach the Holy Grail.


Fill in the answers to the three challenges:


1. Only the penitent man will pass – kneel before God.

2. Proceed in the footsteps of the Word.

3. Path of God is a leap of faith – you must Believe.

It’s time to ask yourself what you believe?

Our study this week is asking each of us – what do you believe? What is my faith really in? Is my faith a biblical faith? Is there evidence of my faith? Do I really understand my faith?


This week we are going to break down what faith really is - both the faith that saves and the faith that remains loyal to Christ. The former addresses what happens the moment a person believes in Christ and is based on passages from Romans 4:1-3, 23-25 and 10:9-13; and the latter concerns what kind of lifestyle God expects from those who have received Jesus as God's Son and Messiah, and is based in the Book of Hebrews 12:1-2.

1. Saved
2. Lifestyle

I. TRUST IN THE RELIABLE – ROMANS 4:1-3, 23-25

1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

……………………………………………………

23 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.


Indiana’s Dad said Elsa never really believed in the Grail, she thought she’d found a prize? She didn’t trust in the reliable. What do you really believe will save you? Is it a law you must keep, or a prize you must attain? Is it a church you must attend or certain acts you must follow? Maybe it’s whether or not you give your tithe to the church?



There are people at times that have said, “In the Old Testament people were saved by keeping the law. In the New Testament we are saved by grace.” What does verse 1-3 have to say in response?

• Abraham believed God.
• If there is any doctrine that Satan desires to undercut and distort the most, it is the doctrine of salvation.
• Every false religion of the world—is founded on some form of salvation by works. Without exception, they teach that, by one means or another, man can become right with deity by attaining righteousness in his own power.
• Abraham was credited righteousness by believing in God.

Why was it important that Paul use Abraham in his message of salvation by faith and not works?

• The Jewish people viewed Abraham as their spiritual ancestor.
• Jewish readers would accept something that was true for Abraham.
• Abraham’s relationship with God was founded on faith, not on anything he had done.
• When Paul wrote that “Abraham believed God,” he quoted Genesis 15:6. When God called Abraham, he moved his family to a new location and committed his life to the true God. Abraham likely had faith in idols before God called him. But his faith was without power until put in the right object – God. Faith is only as good as the one we place it in.

Is faith what differentiates Christianity from other religions?

• No, people of all religions and worldviews have faith.
• Even an atheist has faith that God does not exist.
• What differentiates Christianity is who we put our faith in – the object of our faith.

What is it about the idea of salvation by works that is so appealing?

• Because we like to be in control.

Can you be saved, then with no works at all?

• James 2:14-26 (NIV) 14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder. 20 You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

How would you explain, then the role of faith and works in salvation?

• We are saved by grace through faith. This faith results in works in the same way that if someone said, “I believe in exercise” you expect them to exercise. Faith in exercise will make you healthy, but only the kind of faith that leads you to exercise.

So how do we receive this righteousness? Romans 4:23

• Whether we are mature Christians or immature ones, old or young, the New Testament writers call us “saints,” “set apart ones,” and “holy ones.” Hebrews 10:10 tells us that “we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
• At the moment of our salvation, God declared us holy and perfect because of the justifying work of Christ. It was as if God looked down from the judge’s bench and declared us “not guilty” because the penalty for sin was paid. Nothing can change our positional holiness—not even our subsequent behavior or our fears of God’s displeasure. We are holy because God has declared it so and His Son has assured it by His death.
• We are holy in our standing before God, but we are only progressively becoming holy in our thinking, our actions, and our dispositions as we struggle with sin each day. It is almost as if the biblical writers are telling us, “Be what you are. You are holy, now be that way.” It is like one of the Rockefellers saying to a rebellious son, “You are a Rockefeller. That will never change. Now act like a Rockefeller.”

II. FAITH IS AN ACT OF THE WILL – ROMANS 10:9-13

9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”


Why is confessing with our mouth so important?

• We are changed more from what we say than what we hear. It is important to salvation and it is important to discipleship. It is important to justification and it is important to sanctification. Jesus said it is what comes out of a man that changes him.

Is this saying you have to make a public confession—come forward—to be saved, as some teach?

• There are many folk who maintain that a believer has to make a public confession of faith. That is not what Paul is saying here. It does not mean to go forward in a public meeting. Paul is not saying that you have to make a public confession.
• Paul is saying that man needs to bring into agreement his confession and his life. The mouth and the heart should be in harmony, saying the same thing. It is with the heart that you believe. Your “heart” means your total personality, your entire being. You see, there are some folk who say something with their mouths -- they give lip service to God -- but their hearts are far from Him. When you make a public confession, you be dead sure that your heart is right along with you; that you are not just saying idle words that mean nothing to you personally. If there is confession without faith, it is due either to self-deception or to hypocrisy. If there is faith without confession, it may be cowardice. It seems to me that Paul is saying here that James is accurate, “...faith without works is dead” (James 2:20).

If you are going to work your mouth, be sure you have faith in your heart, my friend.

III. FAITH IS A WAY OF LIFE – HEBREWS 12:1-2

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.


Our faith has to become a way of life. Like Indiana Jones, it’s a pursuit of something or someone? Like young Christian in “The Pilgrim’s Progress” it’s a journey. And like Hebrews tells us it’s a race before us that we must run with perseverance.



Who is this cloud of witnesses?

• Believers find encouragement in being surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses as the saints mentioned in Hebrews 11. Their triumph gives evidence of the possibilities of a life of faith. The figure of a cloud suggests a massive host of these exemplary servants. We receive much encouragement from knowing that others have faced obstacles in the Christian life and have gloriously triumphed.

What are some things we should throw off in our pursuit or journey?

• The first step of preparation to run the race requires that the racers strip off every weight that might slow them down. Christians must be “spiritually trim” and able to run the race unencumbered (see 1 Corinthians 9:25; 2 Timothy 2:3-4). Many “weights” may not be necessarily sinful acts, but could be things that hold us back, such as use of time, some forms of entertainment, or certain relationships. But it is especially important to strip off the sin that so easily hinders our progress. Sins such as greed, pride, arrogance, lust, gossip, dishonesty, and stealing can cause believers to drift off spiritual course. Then they must run with endurance the race that God has set before them.

Indiana almost lost his life in an effort to hang on to something? What was it and what did his father tell him to do? 

• Let it go

What did Indiana’s Dad find in his pursuit of the Holy Grail? 

• Illumination

What should we hope to find in our faith pursuit?

• A greater understanding of Christ
• To be Christ like

Hope that everyone is having a blessed week and we'll look forward to learning something special from Indiana Jones this Thursday as we try to make some sense of this thing we call faith.

See you on Thursday!

In His Love,

David

Bible Study August 23, 2012

Hey Gang,


We continue this week in our study of Apologetics with our series of lessons entitled The Case for Jesus. Last week we considered the question - What's so different about Jesus? This week we explore the apologetic that Jesus is the only way to God and your only way to salvation.

Many people our age realize that Christianity is important, but also feel that other religions are important too. Some think that it sounds a little intolerant to say that Jesus is the only way to God. Why couldn't there be other ways and expressions that lead to the same God? What about those people that have never heard of Jesus, but are following a moral path that they believe leads to God?

What will our special guest say about this?

Click Here to Watch

 
How do you answer the question of people that have never heard of Jesus, but are following a moral life showing love, kindness and generosity as Jesus taught, and believing that their chosen path leads to the same God?

____________________________

____________________________

We will look at three answers to this question: Why is Jesus the One and Only Way?



1. John 3:16-18 to see the importance of Jesus being God's One Son.

2. John 14:6-11 to explore how Jesus described Himself as the One Way to God.

3. 1 Timothy 2:3-6 where Paul warns Timothy that there will be many false teachers out there that will try to say that there are other ways, but that there is only One God, One Son and One Way.  

I. ONE SON – JOHN 3:16-18

16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.


What do you read from these verses alone that give you a defense for Jesus being the One and Only way?



1. The Father gave Him to the world as a sacrifice.

2. He is the only Son of God.

3. Eternal life is only for those who believe in Him.



The moment we believe in Jesus, eternal life is ours. And this salvation from sin is eternally secure. John 3:16 contains the truths of the gospel. Even young children can understand a loving Father who gives so they could live.



God’s plan of salvation is One Dimensional: people either believe in Jesus or they remain lost. Do you agree with this statement?






II. ONE WAY – JOHN 14:6-11

6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." 8Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us." 9Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.


What do you read from these verses alone that give you a defense for Jesus being the One and Only way? 

 


A Cross Eyed Christian - people keeping their eyes on the Cross where Jesus paid for our sin, to remind us that....Jesus is the way the truth and the life.




Jesus said, “I am the way” why is this so important to you? How do you translate this?

• I have discovered over the years that, for me, the best way is not always my way. There are times in which I could sing along with Frank Sinatra, "I did it my way." The results were not always the best. A lot of people have messed things up doing it their way.
• Jesus said, "I am the way." He didn't say "a way." There was a finality with which He spoke. There was an absolute to His expression. I need to decide if it will be my way or if it will be His way. His is the way away from sin and guilt. His is the way toward restoration of all I was created to be. His is a narrow way; it is not an easy way. Jesus made that clear when He stated, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it" (Matthew 7:13-14).
• This week I have been browsing through that classic work by John Bunyan titled The Pilgrim's Progress. It is a story of a man named Christian who determined that life in the City of Destruction was not the best existence. With the help and guidance of the Evangelist, he headed out on a journey, fraught with many perils, to the Celestial City. It describes the struggles of the Christian life. The way is not easy.

Jesus said, “I am the truth” why is this so important to you? How do you translate this?

• Option 1: Philosophical Truths like Capitalism, and Marxism, - I am vulnerable to falsehood. I am susceptible to myths, some myths that are true and some that are false. Some myths have that ambiguous mix of both truth hood and falsehood that lead me in the wrong direction.
• Option 2: Relativisms - This is such a temptation for so many today. We live in a relativistic age. For many, truth is a matter of opinion. Morality is a matter of personal choice. Not all issues are clear-cut. I must learn to live with ambiguity. I am watching people I love self-destruct as they buy into this notion that truth is a matter of opinion and morality a matter of personal choice. I see men and women leaving spouses and children, listening to the siren song that promises a better life. They say, "I have a right to be me," only to find themselves tossed about in the waves of relativism to final shipwreck. They are persons who are determined to have their one chance at life at the price of nurturing. Career and pleasure become more important than commitments made. And God only knows what the ultimate result will be.
• Option 3: Jesus is the embodiment of truth - I'll trust Jesus to be the truth, my absolute referent for life. He is the One who tells me where I came from, why I am here, where I am going, and how I can live the most creative existence in the now. He gives me His Handbook for living, the Bible, to alert me to right and wrong, the best ways of handling situations, and relating to myself and others and to Him.

Jesus said, “I am the life” why is this so important to you? How do you translate this?

• I have discovered that doing my own thing, fleshing out an animal existence based on pleasure, doesn't bring ultimate fulfillment. Certainly Michael Vick, Amy Winehouse, and O.J. Simpson are finding this out.
• I get things beautifully structured for myself. I hedge all my bets by careful, calculated living. Then some catastrophe hits, or more subtly things start leaking around the edges. My best plans for life can't guarantee the health and the safety of the people I love. Those of us who are the most organized often end up the most frustrated because we can only organize a part of our lives. Our best-written scenarios don't turn out the way we'd always like.
• Jesus’ life puts purpose behind the inexplicable. I can't make any sense of a child being abducted, raped and murdered. I can't make any sense of a beautiful mother being killed by a drunken driver. I can't make any sense of innocent lives taken by a terrorist's actions. I can't make any sense out of malignant cells stripping life from the people I love.
• But Jesus sees the overall pattern. He didn't create evil. He doesn't like disease. But He has a way of taking the worst tragedies and enabling us to survive, and to be more than survivors. We can trust Him with the lives of our loved ones. We can trust Him with our own lives because He has made provision for us. His life turns our insignificance into significance. Jesus says that you have worth, that you are not an accident. The greatest of difficulties need not conquer you. He gives you His creative energy to handle whatever comes your way.

III. ONE GOD – 1 TIMOTHY 2:3-6
3This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.



What do you read from these verses alone that give you a defense for Jesus being the One and Only way?  

• One God & One Mediator: Jesus Christ
• Paul wrote 1Timothy shortly after his release from prison in Rome. Paul assigned Timothy to Ephesus to continue the work that the apostle had begun on his third missionary journey. 1Timothy contains instructions on several matters of doctrinal importance, many dealing with the truth of the gospel. Everywhere Paul traveled, false teachers appeared denying what Paul had said about salvation by faith in Christ alone. He knew that Timothy would face these false teachers as well, so he spelled out essential truths of the gospel again.
• Matthew 7:15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

How do we recognize and guard against false teaching?



1. Know what you believe

2. Know what others believe

3. Reach out in love

4. Be ready to explain what you believe



In order to recognize false teaching, we must have a clear, objective standard of what truth is. The only standard that has stood the test of time is the Bible. As we look for false teaching, the best place to look is what the teaching proclaims about Jesus. Is He God? Is He human? Both of these things must be true. Does His death provide the only way to be reconciled with God?



One way believers can recognize and guard against false teachings is to have a list of probing questions based on the focal verses of this lesson. These may include, but are not limited to the following:



Three (3) Questions You Can Ask

1. Does the teaching magnify Jesus Christ?

2. Does the teaching stress visions, special knowledge, or subjective experiences more than the written Word of God?

3. Does the teaching elevate man-made rules above God’s grace?

Prayer of Commitment

Lord, deliver me from the deceptive snare of false teachings and the powerful influences of false teachers. Amen  

I hope everyone has a blessed rest of the week as we continue in our defense of Jesus. 

Hope to see everyone this Thursday! 

In His Love, 

David

Bible Study August 16, 2012

Hey Gang,


We continue this week in our study of Apologetics with our series of lessons entitled The Case for Jesus. Last week we considered the question - Do good people go to heaven? We dove in to see why good isn't good enough and that the only answer was Jesus. This week we look to see what's so different about Jesus. 

At first glance all of these light bulbs look alike, but one is unique. Why, because it gives light. The others have no power source or are imposters. In a similar way, some people want to say all religious leaders are essentially the same and lead to the same God. But in real life, only Jesus has the power and identity to actually give light. 

Which Jesus Do You Follow? 

Click Here to Watch 

 











Answers:

 
Abraham – Father of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

Moses – Judaism

Confucius – Confucianism

Plato – Platonic Realism

Muhammad – Islam

John Calvin – Calvinism

Joseph Smith – Mormonism

James White – Seventh-day Adventist Church

Charles Russell – Jehovah’s Witnesses

Ron Hubbard – Scientology

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi – Transcendental Meditation

Buddha – Buddhism

 

Does it matter to you whether a person running for the President of the United States believes differently than you do about God and Jesus?

 

 

We are going to take a stroll through the Bible this morning and see how Jesus' teachings, miracles and resurrection make Him different and all give evidence that He is God.

I. SEE JESUS’ TEACHINGS – JOHN 6:66-69

66From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. 67"You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. 68Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." 

After feeding the 5,000, many plotted to declare Jesus an earthly king. Jesus spoke straight to this group and told them that he was the bread of Life and presented the need to follow Him even unto death. As a reaction to His words, many of the larger group of Jesus’ followers turned and walked away and walked with Him no more. Jesus asked the twelve if they also planned to leave Him. Peter told Him that they would stay because only He had the way of life and they were convinced that He was the Son of God.


Why did so many leave Jesus? (After one sermon His followers drop from 5000 to 12)

• Maybe they realized that He wasn’t going to be the conquering Messiah-King they expected.
• He refused to give in to their self-centered requests.
• He emphasized faith, not deeds.
• His teachings were difficult to understand, and some of His words were offensive.

What made Peter so sure of Who Jesus was?

• Peter’s answer is for all of us – there is no other way. Though there are many philosophies and self-styled authorities, Jesus alone has the words of eternal life.
• People look everywhere for eternal life and miss Christ, the only source.

What has kept you from leaving Jesus? How do you know that Jesus is the Holy One of God?

• Even if we don’t understand God’s plan, we need to respond to His direction. In fact, when we don’t understand God’s plan, it is even more important to do exactly what He directs us to do. Often, God asks us to make the choice to do His will before we know the specific details of His plan. That’s because part of God’s plan is to develop in us a trust of His character and His benevolence. But this is where many of us get into a battle of wills with God, wanting Him to reveal his plan to us first and only then will we decide whether or not to do what He tells us to do. But that’s not the way it works. God wants you to decide in advance, trusting Him and believing that His will is the best plan for your life, believing that He will strengthen you to do all that He asks you to do. One reason God doesn’t give you the full picture of His plans for your life is that you may be overwhelmed by what you see. For instance, it may appear impossible for you to complete everything He plans for you during this Decade of Destiny. But that’s the point—there’s no way you can fulfill your mission without God empowering you.
• Do you still think there is someone else to go to find out what direction to take? Perhaps you still believe you know best? Tell God, “I don’t know that I’m willing to step out in faith without first knowing everything that’s going to happen, but I’m willing to be made willing.”

What would you say to someone who said that Jesus was a great man but not the Son of God?

• His teachings testify to His unique claims to be the Son of God.
• With the woman at the well He’ll use water. In John 15 He’ll use a vine – abide in Me. He is saying here that He is the Bread of Life.
• It means to believe in Him, not about Him, not admire Him and not be fascinated with His miracles but to believe in Him. In other words, salvation is not nodding our head intellectually to Jesus. It’s not tipping our hat to Him with a one day appearance at a church service. It is a personal identification. You are in Christ and Christ is in you. So He is using the very language of gestation. You have to ingest Christ by faith and feed upon Him. Christ is in you and you are in Christ. It is not a partnership relationship in Christ. It’s not a life coach you are getting. It’s not a genie in heaven that you rub to get what you want. He is calling for you to make Him your life and He will lay down His life. You are abiding in Him. That is what He is pressing home to them but they will not listen to it. They will not listen to the call that says “By faith, eat and drink of Him”, to ingest Him that He becomes your life and everything in your life.

II. SEE JESUS’ MIRACLES – JOHN 9:17, 24-25, 31-33, 35-38


17Finally they turned again to the blind man, "What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened." The man replied, "He is a prophet."


24A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. "Give glory to God," they said. "We know this man is a sinner." 25He replied, "Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!"  

31We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. 32Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."

35Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" 36"Who is he, sir?" the man asked. "Tell me so that I may believe in him." 37Jesus said, "You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you." 38Then the man said, "Lord, I believe," and he worshiped him.


Jesus healed a man born blind. Because this occurred on a Sabbath, the Pharisees confronted Him and accused Him of breaking the Sabbath law. They questioned the formerly blind man, who stuck to his testimony. He said he didn’t know about this debate, but affirmed his testimony that Jesus had healed him. The Pharisees continued to deny the evidence and sank farther into darkness. The man moved ahead in His faith in Jesus.


Who did the blind man think Jesus was? What did the Pharisees ask the blind man to do? How did the blind man respond to the Pharisees? What convinced the blind man that Jesus was from God?

• Prophet – Healer - Lord

How does this miracle defend what is so different about Jesus?

• Opening the eyes of a man born blind was an amazing miracle that pointed to the uniqueness of Jesus.
• But Jesus had power over much more than diseases and illness. He had control over the laws of nature, too. Once, when Jesus and his disciples were in a boat, a huge storm came out of nowhere. Waves swept over the boat. His disciples cried, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" Jesus, who was actually sleeping during the commotion, got up and told the storm to go away. Immediately, the waters became completely calm. "What kind of man is this?" the disciples asked. "Even the winds and the waves obey him!"
• Obviously, no ordinary man. Only God himself could have such power.

How are those who deny that Jesus is different more blind than the one born blind?

• His miracles show that He was more than man.
• Once we were all blind, but now those of us who believe have been given sight.
• People who open their lives to God’s light move toward greater light. Those who reject the light sink deeper into darkness.
• We were once just as spiritually blind as the man in the story was physically blind. His healing was a miracle. Our spiritual sight and understanding is just as much a miracle.
• Look for miracles God is doing in your life every day

III. SEE JESUS’ RESURRECTION – JOHN 20:27-29


27Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." 28Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" 29Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." 

After Jesus was raised from the dead, He appeared to His disciples – including Thomas, who had expressed his doubts. To show the reality of His resurrection, Jesus challenged Thomas to touch Him. Jesus’ resurrection is the supreme miracle and sign that Jesus is all He claims to be.

How would you deal with a person who doubts the resurrection?

• His resurrection is the supreme miracle and greatest proof of Jesus’ deity.
• Listen to the testimony of dedicated people.
• Learn that believing is seeing.
• Jesus didn't really come back from the dead. That's just a fairy tale. It is hard to believe. But there's just too much evidence to dismiss the resurrection as a hoax. If Jesus wasn't resurrected, why didn't anyone find his body?
• Some say his body was stolen. But by whom? It couldn't have been his disciples; there's no way a handful of unarmed men could've stolen a body from a tomb guarded by well-armed Roman soldiers. And it couldn't have been stolen by the religious leaders, those who opposed Jesus. If they had stolen the body, once Jesus' followers started claiming he was alive, the leaders would've said, "Nope. Here's the body. So there." But that didn't happen.
• Instead, Jesus appeared to more than 500 people after his resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:6), and their reaction is probably the best evidence of all. They hit the streets with the news: "Jesus is alive!" They shouted the message loud and clear, even though they faced rejection, punishment and even death as a result.
• Why were they so bold, even in the face of death? Because they knew that what they said was true: Jesus had come back to life.
• And the life span of Jesus? From before the beginning of time till long after the end of it. He's timeless, infinite, and eternal (John 1:1-2; Revelation 21:6).
• Yes, Jesus walked on this planet for 30-plus years. He has a date of birth and a date of death. He was fully human, while at the same time being fully God. But, unlike Buddha and Muhammad and the founders of the world's other religions, Jesus also has a date of resurrection. Jesus came back to life, and we celebrate it every Easter.
• Buddha and Muhammad were mere men, and they died. Jesus is the Son of God, and He still lives.
• Build your hope on the reality of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Seeing is not believing, believing is seeing. Believe God’s Truth and see.

What’s so different about Jesus? Many people don’t deny that Jesus is an important religious teacher, but how is He any different from other great religious leaders in history?

• Jesus is unique in that He rose from the dead never to die again.
• His teachings and miracles demonstrate that He was more than just another teacher, prophet, or religious leader.
• There is no reliable historical data that any founders of the world’s major religions ever claimed to be God; but Jesus did.
• His is God!

He's alive. And He is God. That's what's so different about Jesus.

Be in prayer this week as we continue in our case for Jesus with this weeks' look at what makes Jesus so different. 

See you on Thursday! 

In His Love, 

David