Reasons to believe

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Reasons to believe and to hope

By Rev. Dr Dave Geisler
www.meeknessandtruth.org
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New claims about Jesus Christ
Titanic director James Cameron say they aren'
t trying to undermine Christianity in their new
documentary.... http//www.cbc.ca/world/sto
ry/2007/02/26/jesus-tomb.html?refrss
Titanic director James Cameron
But if the bones of Jesus have been found?
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Many Are Questioning The Biblical Story of Jesus
The DaVinci Code The Lost Gospel of Judas The Lo
st Tomb of Christ
The Golden Compass
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The death toll from the China earthquake has
reached 60,560 and could rise to 80,000 or more,
the Chinese government said today.
www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/may/24/china.chinaea
rthquake?
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• The Tsunami of Hopelessness

Is their hope for my life?
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The Kind of World We Live In Today

• An emphasis on religious pluralism

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Dr. Norman Geisler
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All religious truth claims by definition are
exclusive in some way.

• The woman is pregnant
• 2. The woman is not pregnant

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It is not just Christian Truth that is narrow!
Christianity by faith alone in Christ alone
Islam by belief in Allah, his prophet Muh
ammad, and good works Hinduism by overcoming k
arma and incarnations with good works
Buddhism by cessation of desire through ei
ght-fold path
All Truth Is Narrow!
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Exclusiveness not necessarily a bad thing!
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Reasons to believe and to hopeRom. 11-4 (NIV)

• (Verse 1) Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus,
  called to be an apostle and set apart for the
  gospel of God (Verse 2) the gospel he promised
  beforehand through His prophets in the Holy
  Scriptures (Verse 3) regarding his Son, who as to
  his human nature was a descendant of David,
  (Verse 4) and who through the Spirit of holiness
  was declared with power to be the Son of God by
  His resurrection from the dead Jesus Christ our
  Lord.

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Reasons to believe and to hopeRom. 11-4 (NIV)

• Introduction
• A snapshot of the Apostle Pauls life (Rom.
  11)
  
• Pauls connection to Christ (verse 1a)
• 2. Pauls calling from Christ (verse 1b)
• 3. Pauls commitment to Christ (verse 1c)

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Reasons to believe and to hopeRom. 11-4 (NIV)

• Introduction
• A snapshot of the Apostle Pauls life (Rom.
  11)
  
• Pauls connection to Christ (verse 1a)
• Paul, a servant (bond servant) of Christ Jesus,

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Reasons to believe and to hopeRom. 11-4 (NIV)

• Introduction
• A snapshot of the Apostle Pauls life (Rom.
  11)
  
• Pauls calling from Christ (verse 1b)
• Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an
  apostle

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Reasons to believe and to hopeRom. 11-4 (NIV)

• Introduction
• A snapshot of the Apostle Pauls life (Rom.
  11)
  
• Pauls connection to Christ (verse 1a)
• 2. Pauls calling from Christ (verse 1b)
• Pauls commitment to Christ (verse 1c)
• Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an
  
  
• apostle and set apart for the gospel of God

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Reasons to believe and to hopeRom. 11-4 (NIV)

• Introduction
• A snapshot of the Apostle Pauls life (Rom.
  11)
  
• Pauls connection to Christ (verse 1a)
• 2. Pauls calling from Christ (verse 1b)
• Pauls commitment to Christ (verse 1c)
• How could the Apostle Paul be so committed to
  what God had called him to do?
  
• He had a deep abiding convictionthat Jesus is
  the one and therefore there are reasons to
  believe and to hope.
  

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Reasons to believe and to hopeRom. 11-4
Reasons to believe Footprints in the sand (Rom.
1-2-4)
Three specific pieces of evidencesfor the truth
of the message he is proclaiming!
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Reasons to believe and to hopeRom. 11-4

• Reasons to believe Footprints in the sand (Rom.
  1-2-4)
  
• The Old Testament scriptures point towards Jesus
  (Rom. 12)
  
• (Verse 2) the gospel he promised beforehand
  through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures.

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Everything in the Old Testament Points to Jesus!

• In Genesis, Christ is the Seed of the woman (Gen.
  315)
  
• In Exodus, He is the Passover lamb (Ex. 123f)
• In Leviticus he is the atoning Sacrifice (Lev.
  1711)
  
• In Numbers he is the Smitten Rock (Num. 208,11)
• In Deut. he is the faithful prophet (Deut.
  1818)
  
• In Joshua he is the captain of the Lord of Host
  (Josh. 515)
  
• In Judges he is the Divine Deliverer (Judg.
  218)
  
• In Ruth he is the Kinsman Redeemer (Ruth 312)
• In 1 Sam. he is anticipated as the Anointed One
  (1 Sam 210)
  
• In 2 Sam. he is the Son of David (2 Sam. 714)
• In 1 Kings and 2 Kings he may be viewed as the
  coming King.
  
• In 1 and 2 Chronicles he may be viewed as the
  builder of the Temple (1 Chron. 2820).
  
• In Ezra he is the restorer of the Temple (Ezra
  614-15)
  
• In Nehemiah he is the restorer of Nation (Neh.
  615)
  
• In Esther he is the preserver of the Nation
  (Esther 414)
  
• In Job he is the living redeemer (Job 1925)
• In Psalms, he is the Praise of Israel (Ps.
  1506)
  
• In Proverbs he is the Wisdom of God (Prov.
  822,23).

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Everything in the Old Testament Points to Jesus!

• Luke 2427 And beginning with Moses and all the
  Prophets he explained to them what was said in
  all the Scriptures concerning himself.

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Everything in the Old Testament Points to Jesus!

• Go and report to John what you hear and see.
  The blind receive sight and the lame walk, the
  lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the
  dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel
  preached to them. And blessed is he who keeps
  from stumbling over me.
• (Matthew 113-6 NASB)
• The Bible is a Jesus book from Gen. to
  Revelation!

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Reasons to believe and to hopeRom. 11-4

• Reasons to believe Footprints in the sand (Rom.
  1-2-4)
  
• The Old Testament scriptures pointed towards
  Jesus (Rom. 12)
  
• Jesus was of the (Kingly) blood line of the Son
  of David (Rom. 13)
  
• (Verse 3) regarding his Son, who as to his
• human nature was a descendant of David,

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Prophecy (Messianic)
J. Barton Payne in his Encyclopedia of Biblical
Prophecies (P. 665-670) lists 191 Prophecies that
were literally fulfilled in the life, death, and
resurrection of Christ

• Place of birth (Mic. 52)
• Time of birth (Dan. 925)
• Manner of birth (Is. 714)
• Sold for 30 pieces of silver (Zech. 1112)
• Manner of death (Ps. 2216)
• Peoples reactions (mocking, spitting, staring,
  etc.) (Ps. 227,8, 17)
  
• His side pierced (Zech. 1210)
• Burial in a rich mans tomb (Is 539)

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Some Reasons To Consider Jesus

• James Cameron is quoted in the documentary The
  Lost Tomb of Jesus as saying that the probability
  is very remote (about 600 to 1) that a family
  other than that of Jesus would have the same
  names as the family buried in the tomb.
• Even though the Author he quotes (Dr. Andrey
  Feuerverger) has recanted those statistical
  conclusions.
  
• http//fisher.utstat.toronto.edu/andrey/OfficeHrs
  .txt

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Statistical Probability

• 8 prophecies all being fulfilled in the life of
  Christ
  
• I X 10 to the 17 power
• Taken from Peter Stoner, Science Speaks

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Statistical Probability
8 prophecies all being fulfilled in the life of
Christ I X 10 to the 17 power Taken from Pet
er Stoner, Science Speaks Texas is 1159 time
s the size of Singapore. So a 2 ft high pile of
silver dollar in Texas would be equivalent to
0.7068 km of silver dollars in Singapore.
This is equivalent to about 166 floors of a tall
building. It is like taking the Republic plaza
(66 floors) and staking it on top of the UOB
Plaza (66). - that is only 132 floors
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Statistical Probability

• 48 Prophecies
• I X 10 to the 157 power
• (more atoms then there are in the Universe)
• Taken from Peter Stoner, Science Speaks

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Mathematical Odds

• You could win the Singapore Lottery toto for
  billions and billions and billions of years in a
  row.
  
• A question we should consider

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Reasons to believe and to hopeRom. 11-4

• Reasons to believe Footprints in the sand (Rom.
  1-2-4)
  
• The Old Testament scriptures pointed towards
  Jesus (Rom. 12)
  
• Jesus was of the blood line of the Son of David
  (Rom. 13)
  
• Jesus was revealed to be or determined to be
  of the very nature of God by His resurrection.
  (Rom. 14)

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Reasons to believe and to hopeRom. 11-4

• Reasons to believe Footprints in the sand (Rom.
  1-2-4)
  
• Jesus was revealed to be or determined to be
  of the very nature of God by His resurrection.
  (Rom. 14)
  
• (Verse 4) and who through the Spirit of holiness
  was declared with power to be the Son of God by
  His resurrection from the dead Jesus Christ our
  Lord.
• To declare something as true in this context
  is to reveal or unmask its very nature.

How does the resurrection reveal or prove that
Jesus is in fact God?
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The Bodily Resurrection of Christ is the
Cornerstone for the Christian Faith

• And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching
  is useless and so is your faith.
  
• I Corinthians 1514 (NIV)

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What is the Evidence that Jesus really did die
and rise from the Dead?
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Fact 1 Jesus Death By Crucifixion
Accepted by almost all scholars of the N.T.

• It is reported by both Christians and
  non-Christian ancient sources. (Josephus,Tacitus,
  The Jewish Talmud, and etc.)
  
• 2. Modern medical authorities have verified his
  death
  

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Fact 1 Jesus Death By Crucifixion

• Modern medical authorities have verified his
  death.

Clearly, the weight of historical and medical
evidence indicates that Jesus was dead before the
wound to his side was inflicted and supports the
traditional view that the spear, thrust between
his right rib, probably perforated not only the
right lung but also the pericardium and heart and
thereby ensured his death. Accordingly,
interpretations based on the assumption that
Jesus did not die on the cross appear to be at
odds with modern medical knowledge. JAMA March
21,1986, p. 1463
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Fact 2 The Disciples were willing to die for
their belief that Jesus appeared to them.

• New Testament Scholar Pinchas Lapide said,
• If the Disciples were totally disappointed and
  on the verge of desperate flight because of the
  very real reason of the crucifixion, it took
  another very real reason in order to transform
  them from a band of disheartened and dejected
  Jews into the most self-confident missionary
  society in world history. Time, May 7th, 1979
• He concludes that a bodily resurrection could
  possibly have been that reason.

People may die
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Fact 3 The Empty Tomb
Accepted by 75 of all N.T. scholars
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Fact 3 The Empty Tomb?

• Jerusalem Factor
• Jesus was executed buried and then his
  resurrection was proclaimed in Jerusalem.
  
• Therefore it would have be impossible for
  Christianity to get off the ground if Jesus body
  were still in the tomb.
  

• Why?
• Because Christianity is not based on a religious
  ideology.

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Christianity Is Based On A Historical Event

• And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching
  is useless and so is your faith. More than that,
  we are then found to be false witnesses about
  God, for we have testified about God that he
  raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise
  him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if
  the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been
  raised either. And if Christ has not been raised,
  your faith is futile you are still in your sins.
  Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ are
  lost. If only for this life we have hope in
  Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
• I Corinthians 1514 -19(NIV)

You can take Buddha out of Buddhism
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Fact 2 The Empty Tomb?

• Jerusalem Factor

• Jesus enemies validated the fact of the empty
  tomb
  
• When the chief priest had met with the elders
  and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a
  large sum of money, telling them, you are to
  say, His disciples came during the night and
  stole him away while we were sleeping. If this
  report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him
  and keep you out of trouble. So the soldiers took
  the money and did as they were instructed. And
  this story has been widely circulated among the
  Jews to this very day. Matt. 2812-14 (NIV)

• You would not claim that the body was stolen if
  the body was still in the tomb.
  
• Little boy, homework, and dog

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Fact 2 The Empty Tomb?

• Jerusalem Factor
• Jesus enemies attested to the empty tomb
• Geza Vermes, Prof. Jewish Studies Oxford Univ.
• When every argument has been considered and
  weighed, the only conclusion acceptable to the
  historian must be that the woman who set out to
  pay their last respects to Jesus found to their
  consternation, not a body, but a empty tomb.

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What Things Can Both Christians and
Non-Christians mostly agree on?

• Jesus died due to crucifixion
• History records that his tomb was empty

Fact 3 Something occurred that convinced a
number of people both friend and foe of
Jesus that he had been resurrected and had
appeared to them
Almost all scholars agree on this point.
1 Cor. 153-8 speaks bout the 500 witnesses.
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Fact 3 Something occurred that convinced
others that he had been resurrected and had
appeared to them.

• He appeared to believers
• Clement of Rome (Clement was a Disciple of Peter)
  - Martyred
  
• Polycarp (He was known to be disciples of John)
  Martyred

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Fact 3 Something occurred that convinced
others that he had been resurrected and had
appeared to them.

• - He appeared to unbelievers
• Paul
• James
• He was an unbeliever through Jesus crucifixion.
  (neither James, nor any of Jesus' younger
  brothers, apparently believed in Jesus during his
  lifetime (see Mark 3.21, 31-5 John 7. 1 - 10).
  Yet he became a leader in the early church.

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• Paula Fredriksen, Ph.D. (Historian of ancient
  Christianity at Boston University.
  
• I know in their own terms what they saw was the
  raised Jesus. Thats what they say and then all
  the historical evidence we have afterward attests
  to their conviction that thats why they saw. Im
  not saying that they really did see the raised
  Jesus. I wasnt there. I dont know what they
  saw. But I do know that as a historian that they
  must have seen something.

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Reasons to believe and to hopeRom. 11-4

• Reasons to believe Footprints in the sand (Rom.
  1-2-4)
  
• Jesus was revealed to be or determined to be
  of the very nature of God by His resurrection.
  (Rom. 14)

• 1. The death of Christ by Crucifixion,
• The willingness of the disciples to die for their
  beliefs, and the empty tomb.
  
• The post-Resurrection appearances

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Reasons to believe and to hopeRom. 11-4

• Reasons to believe Footprints in the sand (Rom.
  1-2-4)
  
• II. More reasons to believeand to Hope

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And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from
the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ
from the dead will also give life to your mortal
bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
Rom. 811 (NIV)
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1. What is my conviction about Jesus being the
One?
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Some Reasons To Consider Jesus
If Titanic Director James Cameron is convinced
that it is worthy of his time to develop a
documentary about Jesus because a statistician
has told him that the probability that some other
family would have the same names as the family
buried in the tomb is 600 to 1 against that
possibility, (and that statistician has since
recanted those predictions), ,.then
Remember this is more atoms than there are in the
Universe!
how much more should we seriously consider Jesus
Christs claims to deity when the astronomical
probability that one other person other than
Jesus could fulfill even 48 of the 191 biblical
prophecies is one chance in 1 x 10 to the 157
power?
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Why Are So Many Questioning The Biblical Story
of Jesus
The DaVinci Code The Lost Gospel of Judas The Lo
st Tomb of Christ
The Golden Compass
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Why are so many prone to discount the evidence of
Jesus from History?
For the time will come when men will not put up
with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own
desires, they will gather around them a great
number of teachers to say what their itching ears
want to hear. They will turn their ears away from
the truth and turn aside to myths. (2 Timothy 4
3-4 N.I.V.)
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Can We Afford To Risk Not Caring What Jesus Says!

• If you were not sure if you should follow Jesus
  or or other great religious leaders, consider
  this perspective.
  
• If you follow Jesus and you are wrong, you may
  have many other life times to get it right.
  
• Yet if you follow other paths and you are wrong,
  you do not have any more chances to get it right.
  (Heb. 927)
  
• Wouldnt it be wise then to choose Christ first?

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Reasons to believe and to hopeRom. 11-4

• Introduction
• A snapshot of the Apostle Pauls life (Rom.
  11)
  
• Reasons to believe Footprints in the sand (Rom.
  1-2-4)
  
• The Old Testament scriptures pointed towards
  Jesus (Rom. 12)
  
• Jesus was of the blood line of the Son of David
  (Rom. 13)
  
• Jesus was revealed to be or determined to be
  of the very nature of God by His resurrection.
  (Rom. 14)
  
• II. More reasons to believeand to Hope!

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Reasons to believe and to hope

By Rev. Dr Dave Geisler
www.meeknessandtruth.org