Matthew 6:9-13 - After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom
come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive
our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
forever. Amen.
The Sermon for this week is: Why I Believe In Jesus Christ
INTRODUCTION
1. The greatest story ever told is that of Jesus Christ...
a. The Son of God becoming flesh, dwelling among men
b. His life, His miracles, His teachings, His death, His resurrection and ascension to heaven
c. How He shed His blood to provide atonement for the sins of the world!
2. It is a story that calls for faith...
a. For those willing to believe, eternal life is possible - John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should
not perish, but have everlasting life.
b. For those choosing not to believe, there is condemnation - John 3:18 - He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed
in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
[Why do I believe in Jesus Christ? For two reasons mainly, both of which were stressed in the preaching
of the apostles of Christ. The first being...]
I. FULFILLED PROPHECY
A. EXPLANATION...
1. The apostles appealed to Messianic prophecies to produce faith in Jesus
a. Peter in his second sermon at Jerusalem - Acts 3:18 - But those things, which God before
had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
b. Paul in Thessalonica, as was his custom - Acts 17:1-3 - Now when they had passed through
Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: And Paul, as his manner was, went
in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs
have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
2. Some examples of Messianic prophecies
a. The conflict between the serpent and the seed of woman - Genesis 3:15 - And I will put enmity
between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
b. The blessing upon all nations through the seed of Abraham - Genesis 12:3 - And I will bless
them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. ; Genesis
22:18 - And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
c. The prophet to come who would be like Moses - Deuteronomy 18:15 - The LORD thy God will raise
up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; ; Deuteronomy
18:17-19 - And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they
have spoken. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth;
and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
d. Who would be born of a virgin - Isaiah 7:14 - Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a
sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
e. The forerunner who would prepare the way of the Lord - Isaiah 40:3 - The voice of him that
crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
f. The suffering Servant who would bear our iniquities - Isaiah 53:4-12 - Surely he hath
borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement
of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone
astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and
he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers
is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for
he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with
the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any
deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when
thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of
his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many;
for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great,
and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the
transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
g. His resurrection from the dead - Psalms 16:8-11 - I have set the LORD always before
me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and
my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine
Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness
of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
h. His ascension into heaven - Daniel 7:13-14 - I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they
brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages,
should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and
his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
B. SIGNIFICANCE...
1. They help to identify the One who is truly the Messiah, God’s “Anointed One ”
a. The Old Testament has approximately 330 prophecies concerning the Messiah
b. Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled every one!
2. The mathematical probability of it being a coincidence is astounding!
a. The probability of any man who has lived fulfilling just eight prophecies has been calculated
as 1 in 10 to the 17 power (100,000,000,000,000,000)! - Peter Stoner
b. To illustrate how large the number 1017 is, Stoner gave this
illustration : Suppose that we take 10 to the 17 power silver dollars and lay
them on the face of Texas. They will cover all of the state two feet deep. Now mark one of these silver dollars and stir the
whole mass thoroughly, all over the state. Blindfold a man and tell him that he can travel as far as he wishes, but he must
pick up one silver dollar and say that this is the right one. What chance would he have of getting the right one? Just the
same chance that the prophets would have had of writing these eight prophecies and having them all come true in any one man,
from their day to the present time, providing they wrote them in their own wisdom. - ibid.
c. The probability of fulfilling just 48 prophecies is one in 10 to the 157th power!
- ibid.
1) Counting at the rate of 250 units per minute...
2) ...it would take 19 million x 19 million x 19 million years to count to 10 to the 157th
power!
[Jesus fulfilled not 8, not 48, but over 300 prophecies! It is easy to see why the
apostles appealed to Messianic prophecies to prove that Jesus was the Christ. But they also appealed to their own...]
II. APOSTOLIC TESTIMONY
A. EXPLANATION...
1. The apostles claimed to be eyewitnesses
a. As professed by Peter - Acts 10:39-42 - And we are witnesses of
all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised
up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the
people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and
dead. ; 2 Peter 1:16-18 - For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the
power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour
and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
b. As professed by John - 1 John 1:1-3 - That which was from the beginning,
which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word
of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto
you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we
unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the
Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
2. The apostles by their testimony force us to make a decision
a. Were they truly eyewitnesses, or false witnesses? - 1 Corinthians 15:14-15 - And if Christ
be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is
also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he
raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
b. Was their testimony based on truth, or cunningly devised fables? - 2 Peter 1:16-18 - For
we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to
him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we
heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
3. We cannot say they were sincerely deceived or mistaken
a. Especially in reference to the resurrection of Jesus
1) They claim they ate and drank with Him afterwards - Acts 10:39-41 - And
we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a
tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God,
even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
2) They claim they saw and touched Him - 1 John 1:1-3 - That which was from the beginning, which
we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that
eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you,
that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and
with his Son Jesus Christ.
b. They leave no room for saying they were mistaken or deceived
1) Some skeptics have tried to offer this as an alternative
2) That perhaps in their grief and loss over the crucifixion they hallucinated or saw grief- inspired
visions
3) But hallucinations and visions are highly individualistic experiences
4) The resurrection appearances of Jesus were often witnessed by many at the
same time (over 500 on one occasion) - cf. 1 Corinthians 15:4-8 - And that he was buried, and that he rose again
the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of
above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After
that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
B. SIGNIFICANCE...
1. If the apostolic testimony is false
a. The New Testament is a carefully orchestrated lie!
b. The apostles suffered extreme hardship for what they knew was a lie! - cf.
1 Corinthians 4:9-13 - For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to
death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. We are fools
for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak,
but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have
no certain dwellingplace; And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring
of all things unto this day.
c. Those martyred (all but one) knew they were dying for a lie!
d. They went against everything Jesus and they themselves taught! - cf. 1 Peter 2:1 - Wherefore
laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
e. The greatest book ever written (as per Charles Dickens) with its high standards and
lofty goals was composed by liars, frauds and deceivers!
2. But if the apostolic testimony is true
a. Then Jesus is everything they taught He claimed to be!
1) He is the Son of God - Romans 1:4 - And declared to be the
Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
2) He truly has all authority in heaven and earth - Matthew 28:18 - And Jesus came and spake
unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. ; Acts 2:36 -
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both
Lord and Christ.
b. Then everything they testified concerning what He taught is true!
1) He was from the Father above, and spoke the words of the Father - John 8:28-29 - Then said
Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me: the Father
hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
2) No one can come to the Father but through Him - John 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
3) His blood was shed for the remission of sins - Matthew 26:28 - For
this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
4) He came to offer abundant life - John 10:10 - The thief cometh not,
but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
5) He went to prepare a place for us - John 14:2 - In my Father's house
are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
6) He shall come again - John 14:3 - And if I go and prepare a place
for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
7) There will be a resurrection of the dead and ensuing judgment - John 5:28-29 - Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the
resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. ; John 12:48 - He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken,
the same shall judge him in the last day.
CONCLUSION
1. We have good reason to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God...
a. The testimony of Scripture , in the fulfillment of Messianic prophecies
b. The testimony of eyewitnesses, in the credible account of the apostles
2. For those willing to obey Jesus, there is yet another reason to believe...
a. In keeping His word, they will come to know He has spoken from God - cf. John 7:16-17 - Jesus
answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will,
he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
b. “He shall have evidence, in the very attempt to do the will of God, of the truth of the doctrine.”
- Barnes
c. “He who in his heart says, ‘Thy will be done, give me light and I will walk in it,’
will find that Christ is just the teacher demanded by his soul, and that the gospel meets his soul’s want. Jesus will
so meet the wants of his soul that he will be satisfied and will know the doctrine, that it comes from him who made the soul.
” - B. W. Johnson
Yes, I believe in Jesus Christ, not only because of the Messianic prophecies He fulfilled and the
eyewitness testimony of His apostles, but because I have tried Him and not found Him wanting...!
Mark 16:15-16 - And
he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Matthew 28:19-20 - Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Prayer: Lord I truly thank
You for giving me the opportunity to present these words to my brethrens. I pray that You will give them Your eternal blessings
and accept them into Your heart - this I pray in the name of Thy Son, Jesus,
the Messiah, Your only begotten son which Ye sent to save mankind from themselves. Ephesians 6:23-24 - Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.
Amen.
This sermon is in the Public Domain - Free for all to use with the only requirement: That it never
be used for profit.
