Becoming a Christian Case Maker - Final
John 14:6 (KJV)
The fulfillment of over 300 Old Testament prophecies given many centuries before He was born, describing in detail His birth, His life, His work, His death, and His resurrection, provide proof of who Jesus is. There is also no reason to doubt that after His death, something incredible happened which transformed His tiny band of dejected followers into a company of witnesses who all the persecution of Imperial Rome could not stop. Downhearted and discouraged, their Lord cruelly crucified by His enemies, it looked to those disciples like their hopes had died and their dreams were shattered.
But three days after Jesus’ death, their faith was rekindled in such a dramatic manner that no force on earth was ever able to quench it! That lowly handful of His original followers went on to tell the entire world the good news in the face of persecution and martyrdom! That God not only sent His Son into the world to teach us His truth and show us His love, but also that Jesus suffered death for our sake, and then rose from the grave. The New Testament tells us that Jesus personally appeared to over 500 eyewitnesses after His resurrection.8 This was the resounding message that His first disciples boldly proclaimed throughout the world, “God raised Him from the dead!”9—Excerpts from “Who is Jesus,” published by TFI
A work of God
For those who are tempted to think that presenting arguments and evidence is not spiritual because only God can change a rebellious heart, I made two observations. First, without the work of God, nothing else will work—not arguments, not love, not even the simple gospel.
Second, with the help of the Holy Spirit, God is pleased to use many things. Love and reason are especially appealing to him because both are consistent with his nature. The fact is, with God’s help, arguments work all the time. Jesus used them, Peter used them, Paul used them—all to great effect.
Understanding God’s central role in the process removes a tremendous burden. We can focus on our job—being clear, gracious, and persuasive—and then leave the results to God. We’re looking for those who are looking for us, in a sense—people whose hearts are already being touched by the Spirit. We can be alert for those sheep that hear Jesus’ “voice” and lift their heads, without troubling those who are not yet ready…
Instead of trying to get the cross in every encounter, just aim to put a stone in someone’s shoe. Try to give the person something to think about. Be content to plant a seed that might later flourish under God’s sovereign care.—Greg Koukl
8 1 Corinthians 15:6.
9 Acts 13:30.
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The Word of God is the Most Powerful Truth on Earth!
The pen is mightier than the sword. Men of God have seldom ruled empires, but they won worlds of men with their words, faith and ideas which captured hearts, minds, spirits and set them forever free! God's eternal Kingdom of His Words of life and love have conquered worlds of men's eternal spirits, far greater, longer-lasting and happier than Man's mere worldly empires of the sword! The Words of God's Prophets have crossed the ages and swept around the Earth and changed the course of nations! The words of their ideals have changed the hearts of men and given hopes for a better World! It's the Bible that's built great Christian Empires and saved millions from hopeless, Christless tombs and given the Love of God through Jesus to a World dying for His Love! His Words are Spirit and they are life. (Jn.6:63) Without them everything would be totally dead.
This is the most powerful weapon in the World, the Word of God. It can do more than split atoms!--It can change hearts, and no atom bomb has done that yet! It can change minds, but no number of bullets have ever done that! That's what the Words of Love can do, they change the hearts of men! (Heb.4:12)
Anchor TFI