A gallant band of true believers, operating in total secrecy, have uncovered proof positive of the existence of God. These faithful searchers have been inspired in their search by documents handed down through the ages such as the Bible, but their discovery of God’s existence was enabled by one of the oldest methods available to mankind.

The search for God’s existence, which was not aided by computer models or modern technology of any kind, relied almost wholly on the most primitive of human skills and abilities – the ability to think.

Buried in the deepest recesses of the human mind, this faithful group of searchers for God’s grace found the answer to the most important mystery of our universe. How we got here and how we can prove that God is real.

They have determined that each human being has been instilled by our Creator with a special gene that acknowledges that God exists. It is up to each and every one of us to strip away our inhibitions and unlock our imaginations so that we may recognize and accept the existence of God.

This is not the stuff of fabled theories, or the ranting of some fanatical group. This is the inherent craving of man’s desire to find God, which has been genetically instilled in us by the Almighty Himself.

The millions of people who do believe in God have made this fantastic and miraculous discovery possible. The proof is irrefutable.

Do not doubt the proof. The proof is within you. God exists and is always with you.

The universe exhibits an incredible design and purposeful order. The universe displays numerous complex and remarkable organisms that defy any naturalistic explanation. Earth is the home of wondrous creatures such as the archerfish which can shoot water 15 feet into the air and strike an insect. The universe is perfectly designed for supporting intelligent life forms.

Because the universe is so intricately designed, it is highly improbable it could have originated by accident. This world contains 11 million different kinds of species. Each of these represents an amazing design of engineering and life. Yet, man, in all of his intelligence, is not even able to create one new species.

Pollster George Gallup once commented that the existence of God was statistically provable: “Take the human body alone — the chance that all the functions of the individual could just happen, is a statistical monstrosity.”

Every intelligent design indicates a designer. The greater the design, the greater the designer. The complex structure of the universe declares that there had to have been a great Architect. An accident could not have formed our great universe. Beavers who construct small pond dams could never construct a dam comparable to Hoover Dam.

There is a great intelligence behind nature. We pay homage to this concept whenever we use the term “Mother Nature,” in referring to the intelligence behind nature. Almost all of the complex discoveries of modern science, such as electrical, mechanical, acoustical, and optical phenomena, are already present in nature. Consider the sonar of porpoises, the frequency-modulated radar of bats, and the aerodynamics of the hummingbird.

Reason tells us that there must be a great Designer who has designed and continually maintains our universe.

The brain weighs just over three pounds but can do what tons of electrical and electronic equipment cannot. It contains up to 15 billion neurons, each a living unit within itself. Over 100 thousand billion (1014) electrical connections are present which is more than “all the electrical connections in all the electrical appliances in the world.” Every cubic inch contains a minimum of 100 million nerve cells interconnected by 10 thousand miles of fibers to other nerve cells in the brain.

Michael Denton comments:

Even if only one-hundredth of the connections in the brain were specifically organized, this would represent a system containing a much greater number of specific connections than the entire communications network on earth. Because of the vast number of unique adaptive connections, to assemble an object remotely resembling the brain would take an eternity even applying the most sophisticated engineering techniques.9

Could such sophisticated design and engineering have occurred by accident?
The human eye contains 130,000,000 light sensitive rods and cones which generate photochemical reactions that convert light into electrical impulses. An incredible one billion such impulses are transmitted to the brain every second.

The eye can make over 100 thousand separate motions and, when confronted with darkness, can increase its ability to see 100 thousand times. It comes complete with automatic aiming, automatic focusing, and automatic maintenance during one’s sleep. To think that thousands of chance mutations accidentally formed such a structure is impossible.
Also within the evolutionary framework, the eye would have needed to evolve several times in the different kinds of species, such as squids and arthropods. The human eye is so sophisticated that scientists still do not fully understand it. Such an intelligent design points to a Designer.
The cell, which was thought to be of very simple design in Darwin’s day, is now known to be highly complex. A single bacteria cell is only 1/1000 of a millimeter and yet its complexity is comparable to a chemical factory. Functions and tasks are carried out by the thousands.

The cell has energy generators, defensive systems, transport systems, food factories, protective barriers, waste removal structures, and communicational processes both inside and outside its own cell limits. Human beings have up to 100 billion of these self-contained cities.

The complex molecules within even one cell contain a vast information content so great that evolution could not be possible.

What more can be said? Quite a bit, say the ancient Hebrews. According to them, we have barely begun to scratch the surface. They tell us that their race has been favored with a number of special revelations. Those special revelations, they claim, bring a unique Jewish insight into the relationship between God and man.

What have we got here? Old wives’ tales? Myths? Legends? Jewish superstitions? Or could it be, there’s more to it than that?
Down through the centuries, many people, both gentiles and Jews alike, have agreed with the ancient Hebrews. They believed God has, for one reason or another, given the Jews certain “inside information.” Educated as well as uneducated people, intelligent as well as unintelligent people, and rational as well as irrational people have held this view.

Quite a few suffered and died for these beliefs. No one is willing to suffer and die for views they hold lightly. Since we know that to be the case, let’s take a closer look at what these ancient Hebrews have to say.

Fall of Man
One of the earliest stories tells about the fall of man. Here is the story: Disposable humans were not a part of God’s plan. The first people were designed as immortals. God granted them supreme authority on earth. They ruled over animals, plants, and everything else they found in their domain. God provided them with an ideal environment and satisfied all their needs. God, man, and nature lived in harmony. But it was not to last.

God didn’t want automatons. What would be the point? He wanted living, breathing, thinking beings who would obey him of their own free will. Of course, he knew he was taking a chance. Allowing them independent minds, they might rebel against him. And rebel they did.

A single act of defiance threw everything out of kilter. The close relationship between God and man broke down. Immortality was lost; everyone lived under a sentence of death. Nature turned against man producing thorns, thistles, and poison ivy. Animals turned to preying upon each other and upon man too when given a chance. Man was reduced to hard labor for his food. Woman suffered birth pains. Envy, jealousy, hate, murder, and a host of other problems soon beset mankind.

God’s Plan of Redemption
Those independent thinking humans quickly proved to be disloyal, ungrateful, and hardheaded. In site of that, God didn’t give up on them. He went to work steering, or attempting to steer humanity back on the right course. What did God do?

“He selected one particular people and spent centuries hammering into their heads the sort of God He was – that there was only one of Him and that He cared about right conduct. Those people were the Jews, and the Old Testament gives an account of the hammering process.” C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.

Hebrew Prophets
Over the centuries a number of Hebrew prophets arose claiming they were inspired by God. Were they just a bunch of religious fanatics with vivid imaginations and a taste for the limelight? When you read their stories, that is not the impression you come away with. In fact, you get the idea that running around telling people they are wrong and God is “going to get them” was not considered a plum job.

Moses wanted no part of it. He begged God to choose someone else. Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, was timid by nature. He didn’t want the job. Jonah ran away and hid, trying to avoid making his prophecy. Elijah not only ran, he even asked God to kill him so he wouldn’t have to continue his prophesying. These men weren’t looking for fame and fortune. They would have much rather that God just leave them alone.

Perhaps you are wondering, just how good were these sometime reluctant prophets at predicting the future. You may be surprised. They were pretty good at it.

Franklin Analogy
Suppose, just suppose for a moment, that around the middle of the eighteenth century, Benjamin Franklin wrote in his Poor Richards’ Almanac: “Eisenhower will liberate Europe.” What would Franklin’s readers think of that? Certainly, they would find it curious. “Who’s this Eisenhower?” they would ask.

Good question too. The man would not be born for another hundred years. Then he wouldn’t come to the public’s attention for another fifty years or so. And, why would Europe need liberating anyway? Europe during Franklin’s day was as free, probably more free, than any other place in the civilized world. That being the case, Franklin’s hypothetical prediction would stand out as a double oddity for well over a century and a half.

Then dramatic events begin to unravel. In the 1930’s and 40’s, Hitler’s military juggernaut rolls over Europe conquering the continent. Britain barely manages to hold on. Then it happens. General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander, leads the multi-national 1944 invasion liberating Europe form the Nazis.

What had been a long standing curiosity, suddenly becomes an amazingly accurate prophecy. How could Benjamin Franklin have known what would happen some two hundred years later? A lucky guess? No, it’s too detailed to have been a guess.

Had Benjamin Franklin actually made that prediction in 1750, we would still be talking about it today. A prophecy that exact and that correct would be remembered for centuries to come. However, if we go back to 700 B.C., we discover a prediction ever bit as curious as the one I devised for Franklin.

Isaiah’s Prophecy
The prophet’s name is Isaiah and his prophecy was: “Cyrus will permit Jerusalem to be rebuilt, and the temple foundation laid.” As you can well imagine, the people of Isaiah’s day found the prediction a bit odd.

“Who’s this Cyrus” they asked. Good question too. The man would not be born for another hundred years. Then he wouldn’t come to the Jewish public attention for another fifty years or so. And, why does Jerusalem need to be rebuilt and the temple foundations laid?

Jerusalem, during Isaiah’s lifetime, was already there. And the temple, built by Solomon, was still standing. Both Jerusalem and the temple would remain intact for over one hundred years after Isaiah uttered his prediction. That being the case, Isaiah’s prophecy stood as a double oddity for well over a century. Then events begin to take place.

Jerusalem fell to Nebuchadnezzar in 597 B.C. He carried off Judah’s King Jehoiachin and a number of the city’s leading citizen’s into exile. In 586 B.C., the Babylonian king returned and destroyed both Jerusalem and the temple.

Cyrus II came to the Persian throne in 558 B.C. Nineteen years later, he took Babylon on October 13, 539 B.C. In his first year, 538 B.C., Cyrus issued a decree permitting the Jews to return from exile and reconstruct the Jerusalem temple.

What had been a long standing curiosity, became an amazingly accurate prophecy. How could Isaiah have known what would happen some 160 years later? A lucky guess? No, it’s too detailed to have been a guess. Isaiah must have been privy to certain “inside information.” Something or someone gave him the message: “Cyrus would order Jerusalem to be rebuilt and the temple foundation laid.” The prophet isn’t secretive about his source. He informs us: “This is what the Lord says.”

A written prophecy that becomes history 160 years later should make us sit up and take notice. That is something out of the ordinary. But is this an isolated case? No. A number of Hebrew prophets demonstrated the same uncanny ability to look into the future and predict what will happen. Some of the most profound prophecies were long range predictions for nations and their people.

There were eight crusades to retake once former Christian lands, occupied by the violence of Turks and Muslims during the pre-modern period. These episodic events ranged over a period of rougly 200 years from 1096 to 1299 A.D and they constitute the awakening of Europe from a fetal-positioned backwater to emerging colossus. These complicated, seemingly futile but ultimately transformative feats of military, religious and economic power, are of course hated today by the ignoramuses in the media and academia. Without the crusades the modern world would not exist as we know it.

There are many reasons to make this claim – but none of them will appear in ‘academic’ circles or in the media disinformation outlets. The Crusades were critical for the creation of the modern world, premised on European ideals, economics, science and innovation. The Crusades though they ultimately failed in achieiving their primary objective – the retaking of the Holy Lands for Christianity – did succeed in forcing Europeans and their gathering civilisation to create the basis for the world as we know it.

How did this happen? We are relentlessly told by multi-cultural relativists, lovers of all things Muslim, or the weak and effeminate that the Crusades were a failure and that worse, they were bloody orgies of violence and death. The truth is as one would suspect, rather different.

The Crusades were a very slow response to Muslim aggression, war, piracy, rape, looting and occupation of vast tracts of land and sea which had once been Greek, Jewish and Christian. The lands stretching from Judea, through to Turkey and the Balkans and around the North African coast to Spain and southern France, once completely Judeo-Christian had been savagely Islamicized.

Sources, first hand accounts, and archeological evidence makes it clear that literally millions of Jews and Christians had died in this Muslim imperialism. Cities were ransacked, treasures looted, women raped and millions were sold into slavery. Millions more were forcibly converted on pain of death, obscene taxation, or total loss of assets, to Islam. Contrary to the multi-cult myth making, Arabs and Muslims were not ‘native’ to any of the lands of the Near East, Africa or southern Europe. Their vicious onslaught slaughtered millions. Their predations included the rape of Rome and other major European centers. Design for the complete conquest of Europe were always in planning.

Yet from about 630 A.D. until 1096 A.D. the European Christian powers did nothing. For 400 years they bickered amongst themselves, made alliances with the pagan Arabs and their Muslim converts, ignored the obvious threat to their survival and engaged only in ad hoc and sporadic efforts to push out the invading Muslim hordes from their bloody holdings.

The Franks under Charles Martel who defeated a 40.000 strong Muslim army under the Spanish Emir at Tours in 732 A.D., and his grandson Charlemagne who took punitive expeditions against the Muslims along the Franco-Spanish border, were alive to the threat that Islam posed. For many other states however, weak, divided, feudal and disorganised, the threat whilst real, was too potent to face. Europe was partitioned and failing.

As the tide of Islamic violence and cruel imperialism contined to flow the Europeans in the late 11th century finally reacted. The Seljuk Turks, recent converts to Islam had smashed the Byzantine army – and Eastern Rome’s empire – at the seminal battle of Manikert in 1071. The Eastern Roman Emperor appealed to Catholic Rome and Christian Europe for help. Without Western aid he said, Christianity in the East would be extinguished.

Fired by the thoughts of destroying the heathen Turks and Arabs; reconquering the Holy Land; the attraction of plunder and women; and the purging of all sins; the Western Christians, after 400 years of being on the wrong side of the global war finally took action. In a huge staged performance in 1095 Pope Urban II at Clermont France roused the crowd and Europe with chants of “God wills it !” — “God wills it !” The Pope declared that these words should be the battle cry of Christ’s soldiers in the holy war, and commanded that all recruits should attach to their garments the form of the Cross. For all who participated taxes would be abolished, sins expiated and a sure path to the side of Christ reserved.

This first crusade headed by eminent knights and leaders was the most successful. It was an expensive undertaking for a relatively small force. Perhaps 30.000 professional military men from across Europe participated in the first crusade with maybe 3.000 heavily mounted knights. This force ably lead and bold, retook the holy Christian sites of Antioch, Tyre, Acre and Jerusalem. It was a stunning achievement and within 3 short years, by 1099, Jerusalem and was again Christian.

The first crusade was an enormous achievement that still remains unappreciated. The crusading armies had to be transported over 1500 miles from the European heartland, to Constantinople and then to march southwards through Turkish territory over rough, unknown terrain to the Levantine coast. The logistics of food, water, weapon and material supply were complex enough.

The political and military complications were even more worrisome. Rivalries, jealousies, language and national ambitions all played their part to disunify the crusading hosts. Yet somehow they persisted. With the help of the Byzantine Greeks, the Europeans were able to overcome various Turkish forces and eventually with good leadership and some luck, force their way into Jerusalem.

This first crusading force whilst small compared to the Turkish hordes of the Near East, were nonetheless far better equipped, trained and resourceful than their Turkish adversary. Yet to equip just one mounted heavily armed knight might cost 6 months of the average knights income and many more months of expenses for retainers, food, and weaponry.

In short perhaps each knight would cost one year’s revenue for the average European squire. The crusades were thus enormously expensive yet somehow for 200 years they were maintained. Given the crudity of intra-European trade and economic flexibility in the pre-modern period, and the amount of treasure expended in the waging of war against the infidel, it would not be a surprise to learn that 25% or more of European GDP was spent on the crusades. A feudal system after all is far less elastic than one built around on an industrial-technological base.

The new Kingdom of Jerusalem did not long last. Of the eight crusades only the first and perhaps the third under Richard the Lionheart were successful. The Muslims eventually drove out the Christians and massacred and sacked Christian forts, towns and treasuries. The crusades were certainly bloody, but war usually was and usually is.

Much is made of the Christian destruction of Muslim and Jews alike in 1099 in the retaking of Jerusalem. This was hardly unique. Muslims enthusiastically slaughtered Christians at Antioch, Acre, Tyre, Sidon, Hebron, Constantinople, and Nicasia to name but a few cities put to the Islamic sword. Rape, gold, slaves and power were never far removed from the Muslim mind in their zeal of conquest. More important to the West was the degrading and evil spectacle of the Venetians using the fourth crusade to attack, destroy and loot Constantinople. An ungodly act which ensured that the Turks would take the city and its empire – which they did in 1453.

The crusades were in the main however a success on many levels. The latent power of Europe – when united – was plain to see. The crusades stimulated trade, industry and lead directly to the destruction of feudalism. In the Knights Templar international trade and banking was pursued transformating the European economy; and in the Knights Hospitallers modern ideas of medicine and caring for the sick were introduced.

Have you ever thought about ‘the law of first impression,’ spiritually speaking? This law says that the FIRST thing we are impacted with (the first impression on us) is the most influential. Other, subsequent things are less influential. This can be applied to anything in life.

THE FIRST SEED SOWN INTO US This ‘law of first impression’ can be called ‘the first seed sown into us.’ The Bible talks a lot about the principle of sowing and reaping (for instance Galatians 6:7 – ‘what you sow is what you reap.’) It is also the oldest truth in the Bible, if viewed from the perspective of Genesis 1. Here it talks about things producing after their own kind. Thus, spiritually speaking, this is a very important concept to us: what we FIRST have planted into us is the most important thing to influence our lives. It can be as simple as ‘the first kiss,’ or something much more complicated.

‘Children live what they learn.’ This applies to children, but it also applies to a person of any age. What we are taught stays with us, – if what we are taught is right, or if it is wrong. If we are taught that 2 + 2 = 5, at an early age, we will tend to believe it, even though it is wrong. As an example, when I was in high school I saw the Jerry Lewis movie called ‘Pardners.’ When I got to law school I thought the title of the book called ‘Partnerships,’ was misspelled! Early on I had believed that ‘partner’ was spelled with a ‘d’ – not with a ‘t.’ “Children live what they learn.

‘SUNDAY SCHOOL 101′ Let’s apply this spiritually. What is the ‘first seed’ sown into most of us in what I humorously call ‘Sunday School 101′? It is usually the ten commandments. It is the concept of doing good, vs. doing bad. We should read our Bible, pray, go to church, and give lots of money. We should not lie, cuss, cheat, steal, commit adultery, kick the cat or be a brat. Thus, we come out of the shoot eating from the wrong tree: the forbidden Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. This is most often our FIRST IMPRESSION of Christianity: do good and don’t do bad.

I read an article that made the point that few missionaries are really trained in the gospel of Jesus Christ. They know the gospel only as what was called ‘entry level Christianity.’ In other words, they knew how to get someone saved, but once this was accomplished, they knew nothing about getting people to ‘repent and believe the gospel’ (which was the first sermon of Jesus in Mark 1:15). The article said that few of the missionaries knew anything about ‘the higher Christian life’ – other than doing good and not doing bad. Thus, the most important thing they taught tribal converts was that, now that they were Christian, the women must cover their breasts, and the men must cover their butts.

If this is all that Christianity is to a person – doing good and not doing bad – they have missed ‘THE GOSPEL TRUTH.’ ‘The law of first impression’ has them trapped in a religious lifestyle, rather than living a truly spiritual life in Christ.

ARE YOU ADDICTED TO RELIGION? Many people go to church on Sunday to try to become ‘more like God.’ This was the first temptation of Satan: “You shall be like God” (Gen 3:5). It’s a noble, but totally impossible undertaking – we will never be like God. Yet, this is the addiction many Christians are fed from the pulpit: “Here’s another way to try to be more like God.” It’s like getting ‘a religious fix.’ Spiritually speaking it is more deadly than becoming addicted to drugs. Thus, Paul contrasts ‘10,000 instructors in Christ’ (who impart another new weekly fix) as opposed to ‘fathers of the gospel’ (I Cor 4:15). The religious addiction of the body of Christ is of a high proportion.

God’s kids (which includes Christians of all ages) are most often taught a religious lifestyle – not the gospel of the finished work of Jesus Christ. They don’t know the gospel as the power of God within them (Rom 1:16-17), but rather as something else they should – or should not do. It was ‘the first impression’ of Christianity they received in ‘Sunday School 101,’ and it’s the way the interpret everything.

In ‘The Parable of the Sower’ Jesus says we are required to UNDERSTAND the gospel of the kingdom of God (Matt 13:19, 23). He says this ‘gospel of the kingdom’ must be preached in all the world before the end will come (Matt 24:14). Revelation 14:6 says if WE don’t preach it, then ANGELS will.

Answer quickly:

What’s the difference between Christianity and every other religion?

Can you do it in 30 seconds or less?

Well, I’d like for you to be able to do this.

Unfortunately, the answer isn’t good news. The answer is a truth that keeps so many from being willing to follow God. In fact, it’s really distasteful.

But my job isn’t to please your ears. My job is to tell you the truth. And here it is:

The Answer

Except for Christianity, every other religion in the world is basically a set of instructions on how to be good enough for God. Christianity is the ONLY religion that says, “You CAN’T be good enough for God.” It is the only religion with a Savior.

The world wants to believe that people are good, or that they can become good. The truth is that we are NOT good and that we can’t become good Period.

You simply can’t EARN your way to God, and that is what all of the other religions of the world are desperately trying to teach you to do.

Scriptural Proof

And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call
Me good? No one is good except God alone. – Mark 10:18

Every one of them has turned aside; together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one. – Psalm 53:3

All have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one. – Romans 3:12

Everyday Proof

Ask yourself these questions:

1.) Have you ever sinned?

If you are not sure, you can check yourself against the 10 Commandments. (Exodus 20:3-17). The Bible says that this is the whole reason WHY we were given the 10 commandments.

Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. Romans 3:20

If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8

2.) Have you even known anyone who hasn’t sinned?

If fact, even if someone doesn’t accept God or the Bible, you can ask them if they have their own set of rules to judge what is right and what is wrong.

They will say “yes”, at which point you can ask them “Have you ALWAYS and COMPLETELY followed your OWN set of rules of right and wrong?” If they are truthful, they will say “no.”

Scripture backs up this truth too in Romans 2:14-15.

We are not good and we cannot become good. This is a hard truth, but it is true nonetheless. It is the core of Christianity.

How Does Obedience Fit?

I’ll take a full look at obedience in the future, but for now, just know that even many Christians get off track because they try to be “worthy” of the fact that Jesus died for them.

Don’t get me wrong, obedience is important, but it is important only because of a love response to God. Obedience tells God that you love Him.

Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. – John 14:23-24

This is love for God: to obey his commands.- 1 John 5:3

Sum It All Up

We are not good and we can’t become good enough (on our own) to get to God. However, God decided to make a way, because He is perfectly loving and perfectly just. He did this by sacrificing His Son, Jesus.

If confronted about your faith by someone of a different faith simply ask them:

“Who or what pays for your sins?”

Other religions typically have a strong sense of justice. Where, then, is justice regarding their own sin?

We MUST have a Savior. Muhammad did not die for your sins, neither did Buddha nor Confucius. Jesus Christ is the only Savior the world has ever known. Other religions are counting on the mercy of God, but this denies justice.

It is the most incredible love story that God wanted you so badly that He made the sacrifice of His Son, so that you could be good enough – perfect, in fact.

The more I recognize my own sins, the more extraordinary this love story becomes. Not only that God accepts me, not even that He loves me, but that He has actually chosen me to be adopted into His family as His very own child! Amazing, beautiful and humbling.

The message of Christianity centers around the truth that God became a man.

Many present-day skeptics have asserted that Christianity is a myth invented by a group of religious extremists. Some have sought to dismiss Christianity into the realm of fiction maintaining that Christianity holds to no historical basis. Some skeptics have even questioned whether Jesus actually ever existed. Such claims are never made by knowledgeable historians.

Those who have actually studied the historical authenticity of Jesus admit to being overwhelmed by the abundance of evidence that exists. Those who attempt to dismiss Christ as a myth simply do not do so on the basis of historical evidence. In fact, the evidence is so great that even if we did not have a Bible, we would still know the story of Christianity and of its Christ.

Many other secular writers refer to Christ and Christianity; these include Epictetus, Aristides, Galenus, Lampridius, Dio Cassius, Hinnerius, Libanius, Ammianus, Marcellinus, Eunapius, Zosimus.

Numerous references from Jewish rabbis also discuss the life of Jesus. Not even one of these early references ever questions whether or not Jesus actually existed, nor do any present-day historians deny the historicity of Jesus Christ.

The explanation that Jesus rose from the dead best explains the body of historical evidence.

This greatest miracle of the Bible comes complete with convincing historical data. Hence, the Resurrection can be judged in the same way as any other historical event. The reality of the Resurrection is not merely a question of theology nor philosophy, but one of history.

The Resurrection would not be credible without being historical.

The Resurrection must not be confused with the category of myth. The life and ministry of Jesus Christ clearly belongs within the realm of history. History tells us very much about Jesus. We know where He was born, the time that He lived, and where He spent most of His life.

Every encyclopedia and history of the ancient world records the fact of Jesus’ existence.

Introduction
Every book has a main point. Even poems and articles have a main theme. There is always, “the moral to the story,” right? Well, the Bible has a main point too. The Bible addresses many subjects that are of great importance. But there is one subject that overshadows all others – our relationship and standing before God. There are four parts to this message. Each will be explored in order. The first part is the bad news or man’s condition before God. The second part is the good news, explaining what God has done about this problem. The third part concerns man’s response to this good news. And the fourth part addresses some of the results of a positive response to this good news message.

The Bad News – Man’s Condition
Every person knows there is a Creator. God declares that He has made this known within each person (Ro 1:18-20). But a problem has arisen between the Creator and each person. It’s called sin. The most simple definition for sin is, “all unrighteousness is sin” (I Jn 5:17). But what constitutes unrighteousness? Most people compare themselves to other people in assessing if they are basically “righteous” or not. When we do this, the Bible says we are without understanding (II Cor 10:12). God compares each individual to His standard of righteousness. That’s where The Mosaic Law enters the picture. It is a written record – an objective standard – as to what He deems as righteous or unrighteous behavior. This is what we are to measure ourselves against. So, here is the bad news. Everyone falls short of His expectations. “There is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins” (Eccl 7:20). “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Ro 3:23). “There is none righteous, not even one” (Ro 3:10). The Mosaic Law, rightly understood, condemns every person. That is why the New Testament states that “the Law is holy, righteous and just,” but it is “the ministry of death” (Ro 7:12 and II Cor 3:7-11)! This bad news carries many negative consequences. For our purposes, we will look at sin’s affect upon man’s relationship with God. Isaiah flatly states, “your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God and your sins have hid His face from you so that He does not hear” (Isa 59:1,2). When the sky is completely overcast, you still know there is a sun even though it is hidden. Sin is like that overcast of clouds. Most people acknowledge “God,” but can only guess as to who He is, what He’s like, what He wants, or what involvement He has (if any) in one’s life or world affairs in general. Sin creates an impregnable veil. With this in view, it is understandable why some doubt if God even exists. This barrier creates many current troubles … but the bad news gets worse.

“It is appointed for man to die once and after this comes the Judgement” (Heb 9:27). Each individual will appear before God to account for his/her life (Ro 14:12). Every action will be recounted, as well as each word, and even each thought (Rev 20:13, Mt 12:36 and Ro 2:16). No person can endure this level of scrutiny and come forth innocent. Even if we correct all of our actions, words, and thoughts from this moment on, our past will still damn us. This day of reckoning is called, “the Day of Judgement” (Mt 12:36) or, “the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord” (Mal 4:5). The consequences for coming forth guilty is “the second death” (Rev 20:11-15). This is an eternal state of unending suffering (Heb 6:2 and Mt 25:46). This is bad news – very bad news. Fortunately, while the “bad news” is the foundation of the Central Message of the Bible, it is not the end of that message. But until one is convinced this “bad news” is indeed true, there will be no genuine interest in the Bible’s “good news.” People do not seek a remedy to a problem unless they perceive there is a problem that needs remedied. That is why a proper understanding of “the bad news” is very important. If you don’t have that, don’t proceed.

The Good News
Many errantly teach that the Ten Commandments, and all the Mosaic Law, have been given to us as a guideline for right living. As seen earlier, the New Testament calls the Mosaic Law, “the ministry of death.” It is the “Old Covenant” that “fades away” (II Cor 3:14,11). “No one is justified (made right with God) by the Law” (Gal 3:11). And the Law is not to be the guide for Christian living (Gal 3). There is nothing wrong with the Law – the problem is with us. But there is a right use for the Law today. It is “a tutor to lead us to Christ” (Gal 3:24). The Law, used rightly, points us away from itself and points us to Christ. Listen to this explanation carefully.

The Law consists of two primary tracks. The first is the revealing of a moral code that God requires of each person. The second is a sacrificial system in which the blood of animals is used to pay for sins. Concerning this first track, no one has, or ever will, keep the Law perfectly (with one exception as will be seen shortly). The penalty for this failure is death. That is why death reigns over the entire human race. No one escapes this verdict. Concerning the second track, God demands life for sin. He declares, “the life of the flesh is in the blood” (Lev 17:11,14), and “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Heb 9:22). In the Old Testament, those with spiritual insight knew two things. First, no one continually kept the Law (Eccl 7:20 – thus failed the first track) and second, the blood of sacrificial bulls and goats could not pay for human sin (Heb 10:4 – thus an inadequate remedy for the second track). Therefore, they were looking for what was to be the real solution for man’s moral failure. Here is where “the good news” begins.

God decided to do something for us in reference to both of these tracks of the Law. Concerning the first track, He decided to enter the human race and completely fulfill all the requirements of the Mosaic Law. In other words, He came here and practiced what He had preached! This is who Jesus is. Concerning the second track, Jesus is called “the Lamb of God” (Jn 1:29). When Jesus was framed and murdered by His enemies, God the Father, took advantage of that unjust action. While on the cross, the Father made Him who had committed no sin “to be sin on our behalf” (II Cor 5:21). He “bore our sins in His body” and “was crushed for our iniquities” (I Pet 2:24 and Isa 53:5). Jesus “presented Himself as a guilt offering” making His own blood (life) available as payment for our sins (Isa 53:10 and Heb 9:12). Christ “died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order that He might bring us to God” (I Pet 3:18). This is why people say, “Jesus died for me.” He died to pay for my sins.

Because Jesus Himself had no personal sin, death had no eternal claim on Him. The moment He died, all the sins that had been placed upon Him were paid for. So, there He stood on the other side of death’s door, with no sin. Death only has jurisdiction when sin is present. Jesus had to rise from the dead. And this is exactly the record we find in the New Testament. Three days after His burial, the writers of the New Testament declare Jesus physically walked out of the grave. They claim they ate with Him, drank with Him, and talked with Him. (Note: The authority for this entire “Good News” message hinges on the resurrection claim. It is either an actual event or a myth. If true, this message is given unparalleled authority. If myth, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die” [I Cor 15:32]). The “good news” is that God has provided a solution for our sin problem. The blood of Jesus is powerful enough to pay for any sin we have committed – or will commit. If you are reading this right now, there is no sin you have ever committed that is more powerful than His blood. Indeed, it is an affront to God for you to believe your sin is more powerful than the blood of the Son. But in addition to this sin payment, God has made something else available that is of equal value. It is the righteousness of Christ. Jesus fulfilled all the Law’s moral demands and that can now be credited to us. This is referred to as “the gift of righteousness” (Ro 5:17). This is good news. This is very good news. This is phenomenally great news! In Christ, both tracks of the Law’s demands have been satisfied for us. What then must be done to acquire the blood and the righteousness of Christ? Let us proceed to man’s response.

Man’s Response
If a cure for cancer is developed, it must still be secured if death is to be avoided. So it is with our sin/righteousness problem. God has provided the remedy, but it is of no value unless secured. So how does one secure this remedy? Because of the great importance of getting the correct answer to this question, I will first present the Bible statements relating directly to this inquiry. I will then add my own observations.

* “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right (the authority) to become the children of God” (Jn. 1:12).

* “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Ro 10:9).

* “Whoever calls upon the Name of the Lord will be saved” (Ro 10:13).

* “Whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away” (II Cor 3:16).

* “Everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him acquires eternal life” (Jn 6:40).

* Peter told one crowd, “Repent (change your mind), and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ as a result of the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38).

* Paul wrote, “after listening to the message of the truth, the good news of your salvation, (and) after having believed, you were sealed in the Holy Spirit” (Eph 1:13).

This is basically all the Scripture dealing with what one must do to acquire God’s remedy for our sin problem. The Bible talks of receiving Christ, turning to Christ, confessing He is Lord, believing in Christ, believing in His resurrection, calling upon Him, repenting (literally, “change your mind”), and believing after hearing the good news message.

Many salvation formulas have been developed from these statements. Often, an interpretation of a passage gets welded to the passage. For example, Peter did not say, “Repent of your sins ….” In fact, the word “repent” means “to change the mind.” In this context, Peter was calling the Jews to change their mind about who they believed Jesus was. Similarly, when Paul said “confess with your mouth ‘Jesus is Lord,’” he did not add, “publically” or “by means of an altar call.” In fact, in the original language, the verse calls for a continuing confession of Jesus as Lord, and not just a one time act in a salvation formula (Mt 10:32 also). It is a disservice, if not a great travesty, to add interpretive statements and practices to these passages without a clear explanation of the addition. “Good intentions” cannot be validated when dealing with such a critical subject. Those unfamiliar with these salvation passages cannot be expected to distinguish between the actual verse and an interpretation added to the verse. They need exposure to uncluttered passages. But there is another important thrust behind these salvation passages that is usually neglected. Please listen to this next part
very carefully.

There are two main issues in responding positively to the “good news” message. The first deals with the need for right knowledge. We must come to God on His terms. The foregoing material is directed toward this need. Indeed, this entire article is directed toward this need. But knowledge is only one part of the equation. The second part deals with the need for a right attitude. Most Christian circles are very intense on the knowledge part, but neglect the attitude issue. That is why many can go through a salvation formula – but it doesn’t “take.” The problem is the attitude. A right attitude is as important as right knowledge. Both dynamics must be present and intricately interwoven for a genuine, positive response to occur to the “good news” message. So what is the right attitude?

Jesus told a tremendous story about two men who had gone to The Temple to pray. It turns out that one was a self righteous man, but the other man approached God in an entirely different manner. He “was unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’” Jesus declared this man went back to his house “justified” – right with God – rather than the other man. The key to this successful transaction centered on genuine humility before God (Lk 18:9-14). Humility includes honesty and earnestness. Jesus said the Father is seeking worshipers who worship “in spirit and truth” (Jn 4:23,24). He is seeking honesty – even if it might be brutal or off-centered (Isa 41:21 and Isa 43:26). Concerning earnestness, He says, “you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jer 29:13). These matters are dealing with attitude. I suspect the reason this attitude issue is neglected is because it is so subjective. Who can know the genuine sincerity of another? Often, we even fool our own selves. God says, “the heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick. Who can know it?” (Jer 17:9). We can’t. It is easy to degrade “Man’s Response” to simple steps that only require mental assent. But that is only half the picture. It is “with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness” (Ro 10:10). This will become more clear as we look at the Bible material on “Results of a Positive Response.”

Results of a Positive Response
Jesus declared we must be “born again” (Jn 3:3). Our mind is to be “renewed” and we are to “put on the new self” (Eph 4:23,24 and Col 3:10). Paul stated this change in this way: “if any man is in Christ – a new creature! Old things have passed away. Behold! New things have come” (II Cor 5:18)! Conversion to Christ results in a changed person. So, what are these “old things” and “new things?” While there are many, here are a few of the most important.

1. The Bible becomes a “new thing.” One truly converted has a great desire for Bible information. It compares itself to food – milk and solid food (I Pet 2:2 and Heb 5:12-14). The Bible is the primary ingredient for a Christian’s growth and development.

2. Another “new thing” is prayer. Real prayer. Also, there is an instinctive, relational knowledge that God the Father truly is our very own Father and He wants us communicating with Him (Ro 8:15).

3. Behavior changes occur. New behaviors and activities develop while old agendas and behaviors are challenged, altered – and oftentimes demolished. Sometimes the changes are quite dramatic; other times quite subtle. God uses many tools to make the Christian more Christlike.

4. New life purposes become a “new thing.” We are “created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Eph 2:10). A person becomes interested in God’s agenda and His desire for his/her life. God’s purposes and priorities become more and more dominant in the true believer’s life. The more obedient a child is, the more that child can learn from his/her parents. Our relationship with God works the same way. This is all just the tip of the iceberg.

Conclusion
When a person responds positively to the “good news,” the clouds of that overcast day are totally removed. Our sins are paid for and removed “as far as the east is from the west” (Ps 103:12). Justice is not negated or ignored – but dealt with in the cross. “When you were dead in your transgressions, He (the Father) made you alive together with Him (Christ) having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us which were hostile to us and He (the Father) has taken it out of the way having nailed it to the cross” (Col 2:13). God, for His own reasons, is interested in having a relationship with us. It is my hope that everyone who reads this will search this matter out and take advantage of the pardon that is found in Christ. Do this for yourself – for your own well being and future.