Why I Am a Christian

A simple explanation

 

About 20 years ago, I wondered why?

 

I started with wanting an answer to question, “Was there a Jesus?”

B1 Where there any non-Christians in the first century C.E. that spoke of Him?

C1 Tacitus

D1 Many atheists, agnostics, and those of other religions do not accept Tacitus. I read several articles, but they seemed unconvincing.

D2 I found several scholars who believed He existed but view that He was a rabbi who taught common themes as many in that time.

D3 Pro and Con can be found by searching about Tacitus write Jesus.

C2 Jewish sources

D1 This is mainly the writings of Josephus. Most, and it is suspicious, do not accept the full statement of Josephus about Jesus, but he does mention Him.

D2 This can be searched on search engines as well Josephus writing about Jesus.

D3 Origen quotes Celsus (Source): Chapter 28

And since, in imitation of a rhetorician training a pupil, he introduces a Jew, who enters into a personal discussion with Jesus, and speaks in a very childish manner, altogether unworthy of the gray hairs of a philosopher, let me endeavor, to the best of my ability, to examine his statements, and show that he does not maintain, throughout the discussion, the consistency due to the character of a Jew. For he represents him disputing with Jesus, and confuting Him, as he thinks, on many points; and in the first place, he accuses Him of having invented his birth from a virgin, and upbraids Him with being “born in a certain Jewish village, of a poor woman of the country, who gained her subsistence by spinning, and who was turned out of doors by her husband, a carpenter by trade, because she was convicted of adultery; that after being driven away by her husband, and wandering about for a time, she disgracefully gave birth to Jesus, an illegitimate child, who having hired himself out as a servant in Egypt on account of his poverty, and having there acquired some miraculous powers, on which the Egyptians greatly pride themselves, returned to his own country, highly elated on account of them, and by means of these proclaimed himself a God.” Now, as I cannot allow anything said by unbelievers to remain unexamined, but must investigate everything from the beginning, I give it as my opinion that all these things worthily harmonize with the predictions that Jesus is the Son of God. [plain text emphasis is mine; it is Origen quoting Celsus].

D4 Tertullian quoting Jews: This is your carpenter's son, your harlot's son; your Sabbath-breaker, your Samaritan, your demon-possessed! This is he whom you bought from Judas. This is he who was struck with reeds and fists, dishonored with spittle, and given a draught of gall and vinegar! This is he whom his disciples have stolen secretly, that it may be said, 'He has risen', or the gardener abstracted that his lettuces might not be damaged by the crowds of visitors!

C3 Other writers

D1 Aberrant Christian groups as Gnostics. Consider this.

D2 First century writings about Jesus

D3 Also consider: Early Historical Documents on Jesus Christ

B2 Other writers (These list other sources)

C1 Dr. Bart Ehrman, an atheist/agnostic, wrote a book of His existence. (Source)

C2 Ancient Evidence for Jesus from Non-Christian Sources (Christian) (Source)

C3 Did Jesus Exist? Searching for Evidence Beyond the Bible (Christian) (Source)

C4 Cornelius Tacitus (Source)

B3 As I search these issues in the past, it seemed most reasonable a man named Jesus existed. Obviously, these web links didn’t exist then, I used the library to search.

 

How do I know what Jesus was like and taught?

B1 The most complete writing are the Gospels associated with the names Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. I wasn’t too concerned about the earthly writer.

B2 How could I know if they are reasonably true?

C1 They would have had to be written when people who saw and heard Jesus were alive who could easily point out errors. The Jewish leaders, who for the greater part hated Jesus, would be more than ready to destroy the lies (as they believed) in the Gospel books.

C2 These writings would have had to be completed within the lifespan of those who heard and saw Jesus and observed his life.

B3 Were the Gospels written early or late?

C1 Were the gospels written in the second century is the search term I use now, but in the old days, I used the library.

C2 Somewhat typical of those supporting the later second century writing of the 4 Gospels are

D1 The Gospels: Second Century Writings.

D2 The Messy World of Second Century Gospels on Dr. Bart Ehrman’s blog.

C3 Historical reliability of the Gospels (appealing to a mid-first century (C.E.) writing.

D1 The Historical Reliability of the Gospels – An Important Apologetic for Christianity

D2 Is the Bible Reliable? The link has several articles.

D3 A video lecture by Dr. Peter J. Williams: New Evidence the Gospels were Based on Eyewitness Accounts

B4 For me, the sum of the above and much other lends to a most reasonable position that the Gospels are the recording of eyewitnesses or a historian recording what eyewitnesses tell him.

B5 So, it seemed to me that what Jesus said and did is correct most reasonably.

B6 Since that is so, it seems most reasonable that Jesus did miracles and did rise from the dead, not resuscitation but resurrection.

B7 One more step for me is what Jesus taught would be truth.

C1 He taught there was a beginning.

D1 Mark 13:19 NIV because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now—and never to be equaled again.

D2 John 8:44 NIV You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

C2 He taught there was a man and woman at this beginning.

D1 Matthew 19:8 NIV Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.

D2 Mark 10:6 NIV But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.

C3 He taught there was a Noah. Matthew 24:38-39 NIV For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. (Also found in Luke 17:27).

C4 He taught there was a Moses who wrote Scriptures.

D1 Luke 24:27 NIV And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

D2 John 5:45-47 NIV But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?

D3 John 1:45 NIV Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

C5 He taught about salvation

D1 He defined sin:

E1 Mark 10:17-21 NIV As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone. You know the commandments: 'You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.'" "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy." Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.

E2 John 3:20-21 NIV Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

E3 Mark 7:20-23 NIV He went on: "What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person's heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.

D2 He defined the punishment for sin:

E1 Now: John 8:21, 24 NIV Once more Jesus said to them, "I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come." ... I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.

E2 Eternal:

F1 Matthew 25:41, 46 NIV Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. ... "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.

F2 Matthew 18:8-9 NIV If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

D3 He defined what and who the savior is and does:

E1 Matthew 20:28 NIV just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

E2 John 3:16 NKJV For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

D4 Faith:

E1 Mark 2:5 NKJV When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you.

E2 Matthew 9:2-7 NKJV Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you." And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, "This Man blasphemes!" But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? "For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise and walk'? "But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"--then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." And he arose and departed to his house.

 

I could also add archaeology and prophecy to this list but not now.

 

The big questions of “why am I here,” why is there evil (consider this source),” “why do good people suffer (see here),” etc. are found in many places. The answers I found to these and above are the evidence I rely on.

 

So, for me, I am a Christian, not because I was raised in a “Christian” country, or a “Christian” family, or because of an experience, or a feeling, or noticing something different in me, but because of the evidence. I believe God and His plan. By God’s grace I have placed my faith into Jesus Christ.

The Cleansing Power of Christ’s Blood

The Cleansing Power of Christ’s Blood

[I’m not a big fan of Finney, but the story is wonderful].

Charles G. Finney told this story. He was holding a revival in Detroit. One night as he started to walk into church a man came up to him and asked, “Are you Mr. Finney?” 

“Yes.” 

“I wonder if you would do me a favor? When you get through tonight, will you come to my home and talk to me about my soul?” 

“Gladly. You wait for me.” Finney walked inside, and some of the men stopped him.  

“What did he want, Brother Finney?” 

“He wanted me to go home with him.” 

“Don’t do it.” 

“I’m sorry, but I promised, and I shall go with him.” 

When the service was over, Finney and the man walked three blocks, turned into a side alley, and stopped in front of a door. The man unlocked it, and said, “Come on in.” 

Mr. Finney walked into the room. The man locked the door, reached in his pocket, pulled out a revolver, and held it in his hand. “I don’t intend to do you any harm,” he said. “I just want to ask you a few questions. Did you mean what you said in your sermon last night?” 

“What did I say? I have forgotten.” 

“You said, ‘The Blood of Jesus cleanses from all sin.’” 

Finney said, “Yes, God said so.” 

The man said, “Brother Finney, you see this revolver? It is mine; it has killed four people. Two of them were killed by me, two by my bartender in a brawl in my saloon. Is there hope for a man like me?” 

Finney said, “The Blood of Jesus cleanses from all sin.” 

In the back of this partition is a saloon. I own it, everything in it. We sell to anybody who comes along. Many, many times I’ve taken the last penny out of a man’s pocket, letting his wife and children go hungry. Is there hope for a man like me?’ 

Finney said, “God says, ‘The Blood of Jesus Christ, His son, cleanses us from all sin.” 

”Another question, Brother Finney. In back of this other partition is a gambling joint, and it is a crooked as sin and Satan. There isn’t a decent wheel in the whole place. It is all loaded and crooked. A man leaves the saloon with some money in his pocket, and we take his money away in there. Men have gone out of that gambling place to commit suicide when their money, and perhaps entrusted funds, were all gone. Is there any hope for a man like me?” 

Finney said, “God says, ‘The Blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.’” 

“One more question, and I will let you go. When you walk out of this alley, if you turn to the right, you’ll see a brown stone house. It is my home. I own it. My wife is there and my 11 year old child, Margaret. Thirteen years ago, I went to New York on business. I met a beautiful girl; I lied to her. I told her I was a stockbroker, and she married me. I brought her here, and when she found out my business, it broke her heart.  

“I have made life a hell on earth for her. I have come home drunk, beaten her, abused her, locked her out, and make her life more miserable than any brute beast. About a month ago, I went home drunk, mean, and miserable. My wife got in the way some how, and I started beating her. My daughter threw herself between us. I slapped the girl across the face, and knocked her against the red, hot stove. Her arm is burnt from shoulder to wrist; it will never look like anything decent. Brother Finney, is there any hope for a man like me?” 

Finney got hold of the man’s shoulders, shook him, said, “O son, what a black story you have to tell. But God says, ‘The Blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin.’” 

The man said, “Thank you, thank you very much. Pray for me. I am coming to church tomorrow night.” 

Finney went about his business.  

The next morning about 7 o’clock, the saloon man started across the street out of his office. His face was dusty, sweaty, and tear stained. He was shaking and rocking as though he were drunk. But let us go back and take a look at his saloon. He had taken the swivel chair and smashed it through the mirror, the fireplace, the desk, and the other chairs. He had smashed the partition on each side. Every bottle, barrel, and bar mirror in the saloon was shattered and broken up. The sawdust was swimming ankle deep in a terrible mixture of beer, gin, whiskey, and wine. In the gambling establishment the tables were smashed, the dice and cards in the fireplace were smoldering.  

The man staggered across the street, walked up the stairs of his home, and sat down heavily in the chair in his room. His wife called to her little girl, Margaret, “Run upstairs, and tell Daddy, ‘Breakfast is ready.’” 

The girl walked slowly up the stairs. Half afraid, she stood in the door and said, “Daddy, Momma said to come down. Breakfast is ready.” 

“Margaret, darling, Daddy doesn’t want any breakfast.” 

The little girl didn’t walk; she just flew down the stairs. “Momma, Daddy said, ‘Margaret, darling,’ and he didn’t swear.” 

“Margaret, you didn’t understand. You go back upstairs and tell Daddy to come down.” 

Margaret went upstairs with mother following her. The man looked up as he heard the child’s steps, spread his knee out, and said, “Come here, Margaret.”

Shy, frightened, and trembling the little girl walked up to him. He lifted her, put her on his knee, pressed his face against her breast, and wept. 

His wife, standing in the door, didn’t understand what happened. After awhile he noticed her and said, “Wife, come here.” 

With arms around wife and daughter, he shook with uncontrollable sobs. After he controlled himself, he looked at their faces and said, “You don’t need to be afraid any more. God has brought you home a new man, a new Daddy, today.”

From Atheist to Christian

It is always an interesting to read testimonies of people who were atheists who became Christians. Dr. Bergman was raised by atheistic parents, was taught atheism, and taught atheism. He is a brief biography.

Creation Conversion: From Atheist to Creationist

By Jerry Bergman, Ph.D.

At Wayne State University, where I earned my bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. degrees, I was exposed to evolution. Influenced by my atheist father and my professors, I accepted this worldview, as did most of my peers. We also accepted the atheist philosophy that came with it. The university invited a number of speakers to lecture on religion, at least tangentially, all of whom were quite negative toward Christianity. One even stressed that we have given Christianity 2,000 years to fix up the world, and it was high time to try atheism.

As I became more involved in the atheist movement, I got tired of hearing that all the problems in the world were the fault of Christianity and that if we got rid of all the Christians, the world would be a wonderful place. What especially bothered me was that my atheist peers were determined to suppress Christianity by any means, legal or illegal—first by banning it from the public square, then in the private domain. Atheists seemed to feel that the ends justified the means, so they ruthlessly sought to crush Christianity. I soon realized this goal was evil because in the end it always did more harm than good—and yet it has been tried in so many places.

As I studied evolution (the doorway to atheism), it eventually became apparent that the theory has some major problems. The first example I researched in detail was the "vestigial organ" claim. There are…

So real scientists do have faith in Jesus Christ and are not ashamed of it. Neither should we.

My Journey From Jew To Completed Jew

My Journey From Jew To Completed Jew.

I always like to read and/or hear someone's testimony of how they came to place their faith into Jesus Christ. This is the testimony of one woman's journey to conversion from the Jewish faith to faith in Messiah--Jesus Christ. Enjoy!