1. The Case for Historic New Testament Christianity
PROVING THE PAGES
The Case for Historic New Testament Christianity

2. WHIRLWIND REVIEW The Historic Jesus Contemporary Documentation
Historical Context
Acid Test
Apostolic Fathers
Manuscript Attestation
Classical Histories comparison
Paleography
The Resurrection

3. The Resurrection
More than anything else in the New Testament there MUST be an empty tomb!

4. The Empty Tomb FOUR FACTS from John 19
The stone had been rolled away to show an open tomb
The tomb was empty
The grave clothes were lying in the tomb
This happened on the first day of the week

5. THE PENTECOST PHENOMENON
THE CLAIM: The New Testament records that on the day of Pentecost a change occurred in the apostles which was the direct result of the Holy Spirit
THE PROPOSITION: This change indeed was accomplished by the Holy Sprit and is therefore evidence of His resurrection

6. THE PENTECOST PHENOMENON
5 Facts
The coming of the Holy Spirit was promised by Jesus
The coming was conditional
Jesus died at Calvary
The Jewish concept of Messiah & His Kingdom before Pentecost
The Apostles’ change on Pentecost

7. THE PENTECOST PHENOMENON
The Apostles Theologically
Militant Nationalists!
Only for the Jews
Even the apostles sought position and authority (Mark 10:35-38)
Told not to tell anyone who He was- Matt. 16:13-20

8. THE PENTECOST PHENOMENON
The Apostles Intellectually
Dull of Perception
Didn’t have the understanding Jesus even sometimes expected- Matt. 16:5-12

9. THE PENTECOST PHENOMENON
The Apostles Positionally
Often a state of tension
Division- Mark 10:41
Vying for position in the coming kingdom- Luke 22:24

10. THE PENTECOST PHENOMENON
The Apostles Psychologically
Fearful
Distraught
Locked away – John 20:19

11. THE PENTECOST PHENOMENON
The Apostles Summed Up
Theologically militant nationalists who had it wrong anyway and were still fighting over it until they had reason to hide from everyone…

12. THE PENTECOST PHENOMENON THE CHANGE- 50th Day after the Resurrection
Theologically
The Gospel
The church of Christ is the fulfillment of the Old Testament kingdom prophecies
No longer jockeyed for power
Doctrinally
United in brotherhood AND in doctrine

13. THE PENTECOST PHENOMENON THE CHANGE- 50th Day after the Resurrection
Psychologically
No longer fearful
Courageous in faith
Emotionally
Bold
Ready to be among the people

14. THE PENTECOST PHENOMENON THE CHANGE- 50th Day after the Resurrection
Intellectually
Can interpret the Old Testament perfectly
Learned over a dozen different languages perfectly
Became visibly learned
Become men of weakness to men of power!

15. THE PENTECOST PHENOMENON
Natural Learning?
Time
50 days- enough?
Education
Who was their teacher?

16. How’d This Happen?!?!?
Bible Claims it was the Holy Spirit – Acts 2:1ff
Paul Claims it was the Holy Spirit- 1st Cor. 2; Eph. 3
Peter Claims it was the Holy Spirit – 1st Peter 1 & 2nd Peter 1

17. In that Case….
Jesus promised the Holy Spirit AFTER He ascended to the Father
Jesus Died
Jesus Rose
The Holy Spirit Came

18. BIG POINT
The coming of the Holy Spirit, the ONLY explanation of Pentecost, proves Jesus was killed, buried, & rose from the dead to send Him!

19. The Resurrection & the Apostles’ Testimony
Bearing Witness
Testify in regard to another to the reality of a truth or event
What truly is “Witnessing for Christ?”
Acts 4:19-20

20. The Resurrection & the Apostles’ Testimony
Belief in Christ is completely dependent on the Apostles’ eyewitness testimony!
No one today has seen Christ
New Testament is sole historical record of Apostles’ testimony

21. The Apostles The Apostles were chosen
They were there from the beginning- John 15:27
Their testimony would proceed “to the uttermost parts of the earth- Acts 1:1-8)
Chosen because of what they had seen, heard, touched, etc…- 1 John 1:1-4
Luke in Acts 1:1-3, 8; Peter in Acts 10:39-41; Paul’s claim in Acts 13:30-31

22. The Apostles Purpose of their Testimony To produce belief- John 17:20
To testify Jesus is the Messiah- Luke 24:44-48
To testify to the resurrection of Christ- Acts 1:21-22

23. The Apostles Specially Qualified Credible
From the Beginning- John 15:27
Empowered by the Spirit- John 14:26; 16:13-14; Acts 1:8
Credible
Number
Unity
Faithfulness in Persecution

24. Jesus, the Man of Destiny
The circumstances of Jesus’ own death in regard to His claims indicate He was more than a mere man!

25. Jesus, the Man of Destiny
Jesus’ Claims
Manner of death was predetermined- Matt. 20:19, John 3:14, 8:28, 12:32-33
Time of death was predetermined- John 2:4, 7:6, 30; 8:20
No one could take His life from Him- John 10:17-18
Could lay down His own life- John 10:17-18

26. Jesus, the Man of Destiny
Facts Concerning His Life & Death
No one could kill Him though attempts were made
Herod- Matt. 2:13-21
At Nazareth- Luke 4:16-20
Officers’ attempted arrest- John 7:32f
Stoning Attempts- John 8:59, 10:31
Public Threats & Attempts- John 5:18, 7:1, 8:37

27. Jesus, the Man of Destiny
Crucifixion Facts
Death by Crucifixion usually took hours (breaking of the legs, John 19:31-33)
Jesus died in 6 hours- Mark 15:25- 37
Pilate’s Surprise- Mark 15:44
Jesus died voluntarily- Matt. 27:50; Luke 23:46; John 19:30

28. CONCLUSIONS
The Apostles changed due to the Holy Spirit coming upon them at Pentecost, confirming Jesus’ promise & events that had to take place
The Apostles’ agreeance in testimony, unity, doctrine, faithfulness, and message confirm the purpose of the Spirit & that it indeed came upon them as stated in Scripture
Jesus’ claims about who He was are validated by the manner, time, & way in which He died- no mortal man could have known or controlled that

29. Conversion of Saul of Tarsus
NEXT WEEK & BEYOND
Conversion of Saul of Tarsus
The 1st Century Church
Archeology
The Dead Sea Scrolls
Copying Methods