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Who is Jesus ?

Who is Jesus ?. Jim Clark Jr. Discussion Context. What is Truth? Absolute Truth vs. Relativism Does God exist? Moral Standard, Creation Can I believe the Bible? Prophecy, Agreement among authors. 5 Reasons to believe NT writers. 1) NT writers wrote embarrassing things about themselves

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Who is Jesus ?

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  1. Who is Jesus ? Jim Clark Jr.

  2. Discussion Context • What is Truth? Absolute Truth vs. Relativism • Does God exist? Moral Standard, Creation • Can I believe the Bible? Prophecy, Agreement among authors

  3. 5 Reasons to believe NT writers • 1) NT writers wrote embarrassing things about themselves a) unable to comprehend Christ’s words (Mark 9:32) b) uncaring: don’t give Christ a proper burial c) Peter was rebuked both in Gospels and Galatians d) The disciples ran and hid when Christ went to the cross e) Thomas doubted that Christ was risen

  4. 5 reasons to believe NT writers • 2) The New Testament writers included rejections of Christ a) His own family didn’t receive Him (John 7:5) b) Deserted by many of His followers (John 6:66) c) Called a “madman” (John 10:20) d) Described as demon possessed (John 7:20) e) Described as a drunkard (Matt 11:19)

  5. 5 Reasons to Believe NT Writers • 3) Writers include details they wouldn’t have invented a) The burial of Jesus Christ in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea (like Reagan being buried at the Kremlin) b) The first witnesses were women, including Mary Magdalene c) Conversion of priests: Would have been easily shown to be a lie Acts 6:7 d) The Jewish explanation for the empty tomb Matt 28:11-15

  6. 5 Reasons to believe NT Writers • 4) NT writers include divergent but complimentary details a) True eyewitnesses have divergent details. b) Modern day example: Onassis heir marries Brazilian Dec 3,2005 • AP: Estimated 750 guests attended the wedding at the Maria Luiza and Oscar Americano Foundation with a museum, tea house and cultural center. Onassis has a father named Thierry Roussel. • Reuters: Up to 1300 guests attended the wedding in the lush grounds of an art museum. Theirry Roussel didn’t attend the wedding, and the bride was given away by the groom’s father. c) Four Gospels record different details that are complimentary. There was no collusion.

  7. 5 Reasons to believe NT writers • 5) The NT writers gave up long held sacred beliefs, adopted new ones, and didn’t deny the their new faith. a) The animal sacrifice system replaced forever by the one perfect sacrifice of Christ. b) The binding supremacy of the law of Moses-they say its powerless because of the sinless life of Christ c) Strict monotheism: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD d) The disciples no longer observe the Sabbath, despite the threat of punishment by death. e) Belief in a conquering Messiah, they hadn’t considered the suffering Messiah first.

  8. Veracity of the Witness • 1) Peter= crucified • 2) Andrew= crucified • 3) Matthew= the sword • 4) John= natural • 5) James, the son of Alpheus= crucified • 6) Phillip = crucified • 7) Simon= crucified • 8) Thaddeus= killed by arrows • 9) James the brother of Christ = stoned • 10) Thomas= spear thrust • 11) Bartholomew= crucified • 12) James, the son of Zebedee = the sword

  9. What About Outside the NT? • Josephus, “About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one ought indeed to call him a man. For he was one who wrought surprising feats and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly. He won over many Jews and many of the Greeks. He was the Christ. When Pilate, upon hearing him accused by men of highest standing among us, had condemned him to be crucified, those who had in the first place come to love him did not give up their affection for him. On the third day he appeared to them restored to life, for the prophets of God had prophesied these and countless other marvelous things about him. And the tribe of Christians, so called after him, has still to this day not disappeared.” • Tacticus, a Roman historian wrote about Christ but not in the detail of Josephus.

  10. Historical Evidence for Christ • Veracity of the eyewitnesses • Confirmation by external sources • Results stemming from His coming

  11. What did the Lord Jesus say and do? • “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by Me. John 14:6

  12. Who the Lord Jesus is • The Way: Christ is the only way to heaven. “Except a man be born again He cannot see the kingdom of heaven.” John 3:3 • The Truth: Christ is the truth. Everything He has said is truth. “There is none good but God.” Matthew 19:17, Rom 3:12 “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” Luke 13:5 • The Life: Christ provides eternal life to all who come to Him. The Cross serves as the means whereby man can have their sins forgiven. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

  13. Discussion Questions Does Jesus actually exist? What did He say or do? Why does it matter to me?

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