I do not accept just anything, I want evidence. And proof, solid evidence that can be trusted. Frankly, I am not into opinions. Like I said, I want proof- and it had better be rock solid proof before I put my trust (which is another way of saying faith) into something. Now, if this is true for the here-and- now physical world, how about for matters spiritual? Consider, if there really is an afterlife, then living correctly right now is of paramount importance! For what you do now (in this short earthly existence) will determine that which unfolds in eternity. Consider the following passages from the Bible...
Acts, Chapter 1 (WEB)
1 Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us, 2 even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus; 4 that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.
1 Corinthians, Chapter 15 (WEB)
1 Now I declare to you, brothers, the Good News which I preached to you, which also you received, in which you also stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold firmly the word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all, as to the child born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, who is not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the assembly of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am. His grace which was bestowed on me was not futile, but I worked more than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11 Whether then it is I or they, so we preach, and so you believed.
2 Peter, Chapter 1 (WEB)
12 Therefore I will not be negligent to remind you of these things, though you know them, and are established in the present truth. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you; 14 knowing that the putting off of my tent comes swiftly, even as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. 15 Yes, I will make every effort that you may always be able to remember these things even after my departure. 16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables, when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
Luke was a physician, a man of precision and learning- not a person to take lightly. During the past couple of years, I have been reading through the New Testament in Greek and I have noticed that reading what he writes (Luke and Acts) is much harder than most of the other New Testament books. He writes with more complexity, which reflects a mind that has been trained to think in an orderly fashion. Notice that he has researched, investigated and consulted eyewitnesses of Jesus to get his facts correct in order to know the truth!!!
Paul presents "the Good News" and gives as evidence the witness of over five hundred people. Then adds his own for emphasis. And talk about being logical- read the book of Romans. This book reads like a textbook on logic!!! What a mind, what ability, what truth!!!
And then there is Peter- unlike the others, he was not a man of "letters" but he did know Jesus and what was true. I genuinely like Peter, faults and all, because his humanity shines through his writing. He too was a witness and not of "cunningly devised fables", either.
To me, it is logical that if the things they wrote were untrue, then their contemporaries would have produced the body of Jesus or presented undeniable evidence debunking Christians as being frauds. Where is that material? Not there, because what they wrote was (and is) the TRUTH!!!
Before you dismiss the above, ask yourself - am I willing to wager eternity on what I believe?
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