Why I am a Christian

The 3 questions: Where did I come from? Where did I come from? What am I doing here? What am I doing here? Where am I going? Where am I going?

Came from nothing - Going to nothing Life has no purpose Life alone has purpose Came from something - Going to something Life has purpose, But for what?

How do we differentiate between honor & horror? If we have come from nothing, then…

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1: 1 The answers begin…

“what may be known about God is plain to them.” Romans 1: But, how about the non-believer?

“The heavens declare the glory of God.” Psalm 19: 1-6 The whole universe testifies

“What is man that You are mindful of him?” Psalm 8: 3-9 Does the Creator have anything to do with me?

“The law of the L ORD is perfect.” Psalm 19: 7-10 Do I have any responsibility toward the Creator?

“By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.” Psalm 19: Then sin is going against the Laws of the Creator

“all Scripture is God breathed.” II Timothy 3: 16 Then where do I learn more about this Creator? The Holy Bible

The word gives life Deuteronomy 8: 3 The word is flawless Psalm 18: The word is true, right, power for creation Psalm 33: 4-6 The Holy Bible

The Holy Spirit’s inspiration II Peter 1: The word power for creation & destruction II Peter 3: 5-7 The New Testament is Scripture II Peter 3: The Holy Bible

Is the Bible really what it claims to be? The Word of God? How can we be sure? The Holy Bible

3500 years of preservation Written over ~1500 years From Moses (~1400BC) to John (~100AD) ~40 different writers – one Author! The Holy Bible

Is the Bible we have today the same as God’s original revelation? Were the words Jesus spoke accurately recorded as the NT? The Holy Bible

“No archaeological discovery has ever contradicted a Biblical reference.” Nelson Glueck – Jewish archaeologist If Bible is accurate historically & archaeologically, then spiritually… The Holy Bible

Originals – papyrus, parchment, vellum Manuscripts – copies of originals NT – more manuscript evidence than for any book in history The Holy Bible

Time gaps – NT – Christ, 33AD – MSS, 300AD OT – Malachi, 400BC – MSS, 900AD (until 1947 – then MSS, 200BC) The Holy Bible

Are we confident in the translations of the Bible? -Letters of early church fathers -Look at your Bible’s preface to see the method of translation The Holy Bible

What about other ‘revelations?’ -If revealed by the same God, then what should be evident? The Holy Bible

If the Bible is God’s Word, then: It is ALL God’s Word It is eternally applicable It can never be contradicted by “new” knowledge We can’t pick & choose which parts we want to live by The Holy Bible

If I can accept “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Then… “N ow faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Heb 11:1

A perfect creation A fallen world A separation Romans 5: 12 Original sin Original grace God’s story in the Bible

God continually reaching out to bring us back to Him How do we fix this separation? Job 9: 33 Job 16: Job 19: 25 God’s story in the Bible

Who will bridge the gap? WE can’t do it, it HAS to be FROM God TO us God’s story in the Bible

A virgin birth – Isaiah 7: 14 Mighty God - Isaiah 9: 6 In Bethlehem – Micah 5: 2 Line of David - Isaiah 9: 7 Isaiah 11: 1-3 Jeremiah 23: 5 The prophecies begin

Father/Son – Psalm 2: 7 Yet equal – Psalm 110: 1 Proverbs 30: 4 Suffering Servant - Isaiah 52: Punished for us - Isaiah 53: 2-12 The prophecies begin

In an unheard-of manner Psalm 22: 1 Psalm 22: 6-7 Psalm 22: The Messiah, Anointed One Savior, Redeemer, God with us Perfect sacrifice The prophecies begin

Jesus – Yeshua - Salvation John 1: 1-5, 14 A Son - John 3: 16 Yet, the Father – John 14: 9-10 Mighty God – John 8: 58 The perfect sacrifice – John 1: 29 The prophecies fulfilled

Is Jesus of the Bible real? Validity of the Bible Extra-Biblical evidence “or should we expect someone else?” Matthew 11: 1-15 The fulfillment of – Isaiah 61: 1-2 “Are you the one…?”

Even the prophecies of the prophet were true! Malachi 3: 1, 4: 5 Matthew 3: 1-3 Isaiah 40: 3 John the Baptist

Discountable events Jewish laws & culture Rejection, then belief Testimony of women OT prophecies fulfilled Food doesn’t matter??? Romans 14: “Are you the one…?”

Born of a virgin Born without sin, lived a sinless life John 8: 46 II Corinthians 5: 21 Hebrews 4: 15 Hebrews 2: Jesus of the Bible

Jesus – fully God, fully man Isaiah 45: 5 Mark 2: 5-7, 8-11 Colossians 1: Colossians 2: 9-10 And here’s the test… I John 2: I John 4: 2-3 Jesus of the Bible

It was prophesied Luke 24: Psalm 16: 9-11 To all nations Isaiah 49: 5-6 To overcome the impossible Colossians 2: Jesus - Crucified

“Unless I go away…” John 14: 28 John 16: 7 Another step back to God’s original plan Revelation 21: 1-3 Jesus – the way to God

“I am the resurrection and the life.” Philippians 3: Christianity hinges on the resurrection Romans 10: 9 I Corinthians 15: Jesus – Resurrected!

“If only for this life we have hope in Christ...” I Corinthians 15: 19 Jesus – Resurrected!

“I will come back and take you to be with me...” John 14: 1-4 Jesus – is coming again!

Why I am a Christian The 3 questions: Where did I come from? Where did I come from? What am I doing here? What am I doing here? Where am I going? Where am I going?