God is Love

1 John 4:8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

We've all seen the headlines over the past half decade. People blowing themselves up in order to kill as many people as they can. And in the name of their religion. Contrast this with the Christian faith revealed in the Bible. The faith and truth that Jesus brought to humanity was unique and different than the religions of the world for it is based on love. Not just the moral dictate to love each other, but that of the true God whose very nature exudes love.

Since God is love, He is relational by nature. That means He can relate to us and we can relate to Him. He can love us and we can love Him. That is why when we relate to him by faith He calls us His child. He is not distant and unknowable, but close and intimate.

Other religions do not share this view of God. Consequently, the Divine is seen as far way and impersonal. Christianity is the one faith where God not only claims to be loving, but demonstrated it by giving his Son to bear the punishment of our sin and purchase for us everlasting life.

Many Convincing Proofs

"After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God." (Acts 1:3)

The verity of the Christian faith is not based upon a fleeting apparition of Christ after his death. It rests upon many convincing proofs that Jesus had given that he was truly bodily resurrected from the dead. For if God were to make a statement concerning the true path to life, He would have to do something so amazing that it would leave little doubt. With so many religions, how can we know which path if any is the true one. While Jesus lived on earth, he claimed that he came from heaven as the one and only path to God. After he was put to death, he rose from the dead and gave many convincing proofs.

First, notice that the testimony is not just "I saw" but "He showed himself." He actively appeared to them, approached them. They did not just catch a glimpse of him risen, but they actually interacted with him! Second, notice the resurrection was not just witnessed by one individual, but by many. Many religious leaders claim to have been visited by an angel or seen a vision. But no one else witnessed it. With the Christian faith, there were many witnesses, more than 500!

Third, notice that Jesus not only showed himself, but He spoke with them. He conversed with them, he taught them, he instructed them after he had risen. And that there would be absolutely no doubt in these witnesses, he appeared to them not once but many times over a period of 40 days. This is what sets Christianity apart from Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judism, you name it. The Christian faith makes an adament statement that it is true. It goes through great lengths to make this statement. The Apostle Peter makes this emphatic statement:

We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. (2 Peter 1:16-18)

Because Jesus did so many miracle and rose from the dead, doing what no one else ever did, we are left without excuse if he reject him and fail to receive him as Lord and Savior.

O Lord, thank you that you have made the path of truth and life clear that we may be able to truly believe. It is such blessing that you have given us many convincing proofs so that our doubts may be wiped away and our hearts assured. For there are many who oppose you and try to discredit your honorable name. Yet you have done what none has ever done. You have conquered physical death. Your word is truth.
Amen

That we might believe

1 Corinthians 15:3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

But is it true?

Many people do not embrace the Christian message for various reasons. They may have objections to its teachings. They may be offended by the behavior of some of its followers. They may feel let down or disappointed in that God did not meet their expectations. Whatever the reason, there is one question to be addressed that overrides them all: Is the Christian message true?

It's funny how we all cling to our own beliefs simply because they may strike a chord within us while not really considering whether they are true or not. That's because for a large part our beliefs are simply philosophies that are not easily provable. They are merely in the realm of ideas.

While there is indeed a philosphical side to the Christian faith, it is also a claim to what is really true and is grounded in historic fact. The Christian message says "this is what is true" and "here's how it is proved." If it is really true, then rejecting it simply because one does not like it is a dangerous move!

The message is centered around Jesus Christ. He claimed to be the Son of God and the only person who can save us from eternal condemnation. He claimed to have the power and authority to grant eternal life. But he did not merely make the claims, He sought to demonstrate their truthfulness. He performed many miracles in His Father's name. The historic accounts of these miracles fill the pages of the Bible. But the biggest demonstration was his resurrection from the dead. The ressurection of Christ is depicted in the writtings of the Bible not as a philosphical idea but as an actual event eyewitnessed by those who wrote about it.

Jesus actual did what no other religious or philosphical leader has ever done. He overcame death. This is the big difference between the Christian faith and every other religion or philosphy including Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism...you name it.

If it is true that Jesus did rise from the dead, then it confirms his message. And if his message is true, then the only thing left to do is to embrace it.

"If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: 'They hated me without reason." (The words of Jesus, recorded in John 15:24-25).