Questions answered for me....?

[TJC28]

Hi All,

I have been a life-long Christian, but I hear arguments from people who don't believe and I didn't know what an explanation would be to give to them. Anyhow, I've heard people say that since Jesus was born over 2,000 years ago, the bible isn't reliable and it's hard to prove that everything in it is true. Also, they said that during that time, "things had to be exaggerated (like his rising from the dead and other miracles) to make Christianity a dominant religion for it's time. Mainly, the argument was that the events in the New Testament were exaggerated so more people would follow and Christianity could become the dominant world religion. They also include events in Jesus' life and the crucifixion as being hard to confirm. I don't believe this, but it would be nice to have counter-arguments for people who say things like that. Thus, without being too bible-specific (speaking in layman's terms), how do we as Christians know without a doubt that Jesus was the son of God and what the bible says is always true? A little disclaimer from me: I pray everyday and notice a difference, so what detractors say doesn't influence me, but it would be good to be more informed about what I believe .

Thanks friends!

 

[Eugene]

Hi TJC28 and welcome to CF.net. Hopefully you will receive the answers satisfactory to your questions. You asked "Thus, without being too bible-specific (speaking in layman's terms), how do we as Christians know without a doubt that Jesus was the son of God and what the bible says is always true? "

FAITH! There's a song that says "God said it, I believe it, and that's good enough for me." Our faith grows as we're into the word of God because things past and things present begin coming together and God makes them real to us. Experience of deliverance, safety in impossible situations, and His presence in all things become clear to the honest mind. Those I talk to of God must have their own birth to see the kingdom of God we've entered and you will tell them more by what you do than what you say.

One scripture if you will is Hebrews 11:1. "Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Blessings in Christ Jesus. :waving

 

[Mike]

Welcome to CFnet!

In case you don't get a strong response to your call for discussion, you should know we usually just greet people in the New Member Forum. You might get more of a response if you pose this in the General Forum or Christian Talk & Advice Forum. Faith is our ultimate gift to see the Truth in scripture, but there is plenty of support for its accuracy.

I would think most people who find the obstacles you pose problematic aren't going to accept it by people trying to convince them. There's a good amount of debate here, and I've seen few non-believers openly change their minds. But who knows what sticks later on down the road!

 

[TJC28]

Thanks for the replies, I'll try a general discussion forum. Good to meet you all too!

 

[Vanguard]

Thus, without being too bible-specific (speaking in layman's terms), how do we as Christians know without a doubt that Jesus was the son of God and what the bible says is always true?

The short version is that you have a personal choice, based on faith, as others have stated. It's what YOU believe that matters, not what others believe.

To be more specific to the quoted question, there is no way to prove beyond a doubt what Christians claim. People have been trying for centuries. There is a ton of theory, speculation, doctrine, claims and counter claims, etc. but there is no definitive answer to that question.

Orthodox Judaism (Jews) rejects Jesus as the messiah, and they disregard the New Testament. Christianity rose from Judaism, thus they are linked both biblically and historically. Who is right and who is wrong? No one knows for sure.

I know that is not the answer you were looking for, but that is the cold, hard truth. However, it does not matter in the grand scheme of things. Follow your heart and make your own choice. You don't owe anyone an explanation.

 

[matt041187]

" Anyhow, I've heard people say that since Jesus was born over 2,000 years ago, the bible isn't reliable and it's hard to prove that everything in it is true. Also, they said that during that time, "things had to be exaggerated (like his rising from the dead and other miracles) to make Christianity a dominant religion for it's time."

Well, what I have to say about that is not all the miracles and supernatural events took place thousands of years ago. there have been miracles and Supernatural events similar to those that happened in the Bible in the 20th century. I shall mention one of them:

The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared in 1917 in Fatima Portugal to three shepard children and mentioned that the current war was a consequence of sin. She told people "stop offending God for he is already greatly offended". She said the war would end but if people continued to offend God a second and worse war would happen and that when they saw a night illuminated by an unknown light that was the warning that God would punnish the world with a second and greater war.

She also warned about the rise of communism in Russia and the spreading of Russia's errors throughout the world. She promised a public miracle would take place at the Cova da Iria, Fatima, Portugal, October 13, l917.
This promise got media attention and 70,000 people showed up to witness the "Miracle of the sun" aka Miracle of Fatima (You can google it. There have been many books and Documenteries written about it.)

Two of the Children were told they would die shortly which they did and she told them to offer up all of their suffering and death to atone for sins of the world and in supplication for the conversion of sinners, "because many souls go to Hell because they have no one to pray and sacrifice for them."

Many of the people that showed up at the Cova Da Iria to see the miracle were communists and freemasons (antireligious) people who showed up to mock the event. They testified that they witnessed the miracle and wrote about it in secular newspapers.
This Miracle of Fatima was promised, witnessed by thousands, and the prophecies of the second world war and the rise of communism in Russia and the spreading of Russia's errors throughout the world all came true which makes the miracle of Fatima the greatest supernatural event of the 20th century.

Also it applies to what is happening to us today because socialism is considered one of the errors of Russia which have spread throughout the world and have serious effects on life in the United States and throughout the world.