You have heard that you cannot prove the things written in the Bible. Many say it is full of contradictions and fables. If you do not believe and want proof, then I will lay out many infallible proofs that Jesus is the Savior of mankind.
Acts 1:3 states, “To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.”
We do not accept Jesus by blind faith. His work on the Cross has changed the lives of millions over the past 2,000 years. That is undeniable. Jesus fulfilled hundreds of scriptures pertaining to His first coming. Finally, after being dispersed into Gentile nations in 722 BC and 70 AD, the rebirth of Israel happened in November 1947 and May 1948. The rebirth of Israel was prophesied by many prophets. The fulfilled prophecies and rebirth of Israel will be addressed in subsequent articles.
The first proof of the validity of the Word of God is a new life.
Second Corinthians 5:17 states, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
How can someone who lived a sinful lifestyle become a son or daughter of God? The answer is Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross, which activates the power of the Holy Spirit to save and to transform.
First Corinthians 1:18 states, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”
If you are a believer in Jesus, you are saved. You are not being saved. Salvation is not a process. It is an instantaneous act of grace when the repentant sinner accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior and the Holy Spirit indwells the believer. It is also known as justification.
The saints of God have been delivered from a life of wickedness. They lived in sin. The sin nature controlled them 24 hrs. a day, 7 days a week. The world, the flesh, and the devil were their masters. God the Holy Spirit is the only one who can take away the desire to commit sin. Many saints of God have been freed from addictions to drugs, alcohol, pornography, gambling, and many other strongholds. One day the flesh or sin nature could not get enough of the addiction. The same day, next day, or over a period of time, the believer lost the desire to continue in a particular sin or sins.
First Corinthian 6:9-11 states, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
The Holy Spirit revealed to the apostle Paul that sinful desires of some of the Corinthians were removed. The list in first Corinthians 6 is not exhaustive, but they are devastating evil desires that have wrecked the lives of millions. There is a sin or sins that easily gets us into trouble.
Hebrew 12:1-2 states, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
This verse proves that salvation is a starting point. Jesus is the Author of our faith. But, when you are saved, the Holy Spirit transforms you (a.k.a. sanctification process) into the image of Jesus.
Philippians 1:6 states, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
Philippians 3:14 states, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
The “high calling” for all believers is to be like Jesus. The apostle Paul strove to be like Jesus every day. That should be our desire.
The sin nature is not removed at salvation, but a believer has the power to overcome temptation.
First Corinthians 10:13 states, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
The Devil made me do it is not an excuse to sin.
First John 4:4 states, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
The He is that is in you (if you are born again) is God the Holy Spirit. The he that is in the world is Satan. The way of escape is prayer, fasting, quoting the Word of God, and the shield of faith.
The key to overcoming the sin nature is to look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith who endured the cross for us all. This activates the Holy Spirit to burn out desires that hinder our walk with God.
Jesus states in John 16:13-14, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.”
The Holy Spirit’s main job is to glorify Jesus. Glorify means to honour or magnify. The Holy Spirit will always lead the believer and sinner to the cross. Why? That is where the sin debt was paid. That is where addictions were broken. That is where we have access to physical and emotional healings. We do not worship two pieces of wood. We worship the person who was nailed to that cross nearly 2,000 years ago.
Millions of Christians were martyred for their faith in Christ during that same period. They laid down their life for their faith in Jesus. They were fed to the lions. They were lit on fire. Their heads were cut off. They were cast into prison. They were ostracized from their own families.
In the tribulation, the saints of God will be hunted and killed by the millions because they will not accept the mark of the anti-christ.
Revelation 12:10-11 states, “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”
I want to appeal to the unbeliever. You have been taught in public schools that we are a cosmic accident – the earth, the human body, evolved from nothing. But, there is a God. Creation is #1 proof that there is a God. You will meet Him one day. When you stand before Him in an unregenerate body, you will be cast into a lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). Your soul will never die. Jesus is your only hope. The following scriptures are proof that Jesus is the only way to heaven.
Acts 4:12 states, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
John 3:16 [Jesus] states, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”
John 14:6 [Jesus] states, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to Father but by Me.”
You MUST believe in Jesus to be born again (John 3:3), receive a new life, and go to heaven.
Please seek the Lord, and He will reveal Himself to you. Please read the Gospel of John. The purpose in life is to find Jesus as Lord and Savior and to live for Him. He will give you a new life because He loves you.
God bless
John M