D. JAMES KENNEDY MINISTRIES PRESENTS
TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM.
HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD
AND THAT JESUS CHRIST ROSE FROM THE DEAD?
WE'LL CONSIDER THOSE QUESTIONS- AND ONE MAN'S
SEARCH TO DISPROVE THE RESURRECTION-
TODAY ON TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM.
THIS IS TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM.
♪
WELCOME TO TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM, A PRODUCTION OF
D. JAMES KENNEDY MINISTRIES, WHERE WE ARE STANDING FOR
TRUTH AND DEFENDING YOUR FREEDOM.
THERE IS AN ACTIVE EFFORT AFOOT TODAY TO SILENCE
CHRISTIANS AND TO MARGINALIZE THE CHRISTIAN
FAITH.
SADLY, IN AN ERA OF RELATIVISM WHERE I HAVE MY
TRUTH AND YOU HAVE YOUR TRUTH, MANY DO NOT REALIZE
THAT THE CHRISTIAN FAITH IS BUILT ON A SOLID
FOUNDATION OF EVIDENCE.
ON TODAY'S PROGRAM, WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT SOME OF
THAT EVIDENCE.
YOU'LL MEET A MAN WHO SET OUT TO DISPROVE THE
RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST- AND WHAT HE
DISCOVERED SHOCKED HIM.
AND AS WE BEGIN, WE ARE JOINED BY OUR OWN
DR. JERRY NEWCOMBE, WHO CO-WROTE MORE THAN A DOZEN
BOOKS WITH DR. KENNEDY AND HAS WRITTEN MANY OTHERS ON
HIS OWN.
WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE FOR CHRISTIANITY.
JERRY, WELCOME.
IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU WITH US TODAY.
THANK YOU, FRANK, IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A SEARCH FOR TRUTH AS IT
RELATES TO CHRISTIAN TRUTH, THAT SEARCH HAS TO
BEGIN WITH THE SCRIPTURES, DOESN'T IT?
YES, IT DOES.
TELL US WHY.
WELL, THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD AND WE BELIEVE
IT NOT JUST BECAUSE IT CLAIMS TO BE THE WORD OF
GOD, BUT THERE'S ALL SORTS OF EVIDENCE AS TO WHY THE
BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE BIBLE WAS WRITTEN OVER A PERIOD OF
HUNDREDS OF YEARS AND THERE ARE SEVERAL
PROPHECIES IN THE BIBLE THAT LATER GET FULFILLED.
IN OTHER WORDS, WE KNOW FOR SURE THAT CERTAIN
WRITINGS WERE WRITTEN BEFORE JESUS WAS BORN,
HUNDREDS OF YEARS BEFORE JESUS WAS BORN AND THEN
JESUS FULFILLED THOSE THINGS.
AND TO THE POINT WHERE WHEN MATHEMATICIANS HAVE
CALCULATED ODDS, THEY HAVE DISCOVERED THIS IS
IMPOSSIBLE IF THIS WERE NOT THE TRUTH THAT THIS
MAN WOULD FULFILL THESE THINGS.
JERRY, YOU WORKED WITH DR. KENNEDY FOR MANY, MANY
YEARS AS HAVE OTHERS.
HE PLACED A STRONG EMPHASIS ON WHAT'S CALLED
BIBLICAL APOLOGETICS.
NOW THAT'S NOT MAKING AN APOLOGY.
TELL US WHAT AN APOLOGETIC IS AND HOW DR. KENNEDY
EMPLOYED THEM.
WELL, AN APOLOGETIC IS BASICALLY AN ANSWER AS TO
THE REASON YOU BELIEVE IN THE FAITH.
AND I THINK ONE ASPECT OF DR. KENNEDY THAT ALWAYS
ATTRACTED ME TO HIS TEACHING WAS THE FACT THAT
HE WOULD ALWAYS BUILD INTO WHATEVER IT WAS HE WAS
SPEAKING ABOUT SOME REASONS TO BELIEVE IT.
AND SO, I REMEMBER ONE ANECDOTE HE TOLD ABOUT HE
HEARD A TALK SHOW, A RADIO TALK SHOW IN SOUTH
FLORIDA, AND THERE WAS THIS ATHEIST CHEWING UP
CHRISTIANS WHO WOULD CALL HIM UP AND HE WOULD SPIT
HIM OUT, THIS ATHEIST DID AND DR. KENNEDY TRIED TO
CALL AND COULDN'T REACH THE MAN AND HE REALIZED
THAT SO MANY CHRISTIANS ARE NOT WELL EQUIPPED TO
EXPLAIN WHY THEY BELIEVE THE BIBLE.
WHY WE BELIEVE IN JESUS, WHY WE BELIEVE JESUS ROSE
FROM THE DEAD, ETC. AND SO HE ENDED UP WRITING A BOOK
ABOUT IT SO THAT CHRISTIANS COULD BE ABLE
TO GIVE AN ANSWER FOR THE HOPE THAT LIES WITHIN US
WHICH IS A FULFILLMENT OF WHAT PETER TALKS ABOUT.
I PETER 3:15.
AND BY THE WAY, THE GREEK WORD THERE IS A REASON FOR
BELIEVING OR THE ANSWER IS THE WORD APOLOGETIC AND
THAT'S WHERE WE GET THAT PHRASE OR WORD.
SO IT'S A GREEK WORD THAT BASICALLY MEANS TO DEFEND
A TRUTH, TO DEFEND SOMETHING.
RIGHT.
JESUS MADE EXTRAORDINARY CLAIMS ABOUT HIMSELF.
AND WE WOULD ARGUE THAT HE VALIDATED THOSE CLAIMS BY
RISING FROM THE DEAD.
WE REALLY CAN'T JUST DISMISS THE PERSON OF CHRIST.
THERE ARE ONLY A FEW OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO US
WHEN IT COMES TO CHRIST.
WHAT ARE THEY?
WELL, JESUS SAID HE WAS DIVINE AND EITHER HE WAS
CRAZY WHEN HE SAID THAT OR HE WAS DECEIVING PEOPLE,
HE WAS A LIAR, OR HE WAS THE LORD.
AND OF COURSE ALL THE CHARACTER SIGNS SHOW THAT
HE WAS THE LORD.
THE FACT THAT HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD, AGAIN, SHOWS
THAT HE WAS THE LORD.
SO, HE'S EITHER A LIAR OR A CRAZY PERSON, OR THE
LORD OF THE UNIVERSE.
YEAH.
NOW THAT POSES A QUESTION THAT DEMANDS A RESPONSE OF
ALL MEN AND WOMEN.
DOESN'T IT? WHAT IS IT?
YES, IT DOES BECAUSE BOTTOM LINE IS: JESUS
CHRIST HAS A CLAIM TO EVERY ONE OF US.
YOU KNOW, EVERY BEAT OF THE HUMAN HEART IS BY THE
GRACE OF JESUS CHRIST.
AND WHEN HE SAYS, "ENOUGH."
IT'S OVER.
AND THEN COMES THE ACCOUNTABILITY.
IT IS TO JESUS CHRIST THAT THE FATHER HAS ENTRUSTED
JUDGMENT TO THIS WORLD.
EVERY ONE OF US NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE; NO MATTER
WHAT YOU BELIEVE IS GOING TO GIVE AN ACCOUNT TO
JESUS CHRIST FOR YOUR LIFE ONE DAY.
BECAUSE THE FATHER HAS ENTRUSTED JUDGMENT TO HIM.
THIS IS IMPORTANT THAT WE BE PREPARED FOR THAT AND
WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT NOBODY IS PERFECT.
NOBODY LIVES UP TO THE STANDARDS THAT GOD DEMANDS
FOR US, BUT JESUS WAS PERFECT AND JESUS AS THE
PERFECTLY DIVINE HUMAN OFFERED HIMSELF UP AS A
SACRIFICE FOR SINNERS SO THAT OUR SINS CAN BE
FORGIVEN.
LET'S PUT IT THIS WAY: ALL OF US ARE GOING TO HAVE
OUR SINS PUNISHED, THE QUESTION IS ARE YOU GOING
TO LET JESUS RECEIVE THE PUNISHMENT FOR YOUR SINS
ON THE CROSS 2000 YEARS AGO OR ARE YOU GOING TO GO
AHEAD AND BE SEPARATED FROM GOD FOR ALL ETERNITY
AND HAVE TO PAY THE PENALTY, THE DUE PENALTY
FOR YOUR OWN SINS?
SO THE SCRIPTURES SAY, "IT'S APPOINTED FOR MAN
ONCE TO DIE AND AFTER THAT COMES THE JUDGMENT AND AT
THAT JUDGMENT WE'LL STAND BEFORE JESUS CHRIST THE
LORD OF THE UNIVERSE AND RENDER AN ACCOUNT OF OUR
LIVES.
YES, AND WE WILL STAND BEFORE HIM, AND QUITE
HONESTLY, NONE OF US ARE PREPARED IN AND OF
OURSELVES THROUGH OUR OWN SUPPOSED GOOD WORKS AS THE
REFORMATION MOTTO GOES, "THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY
FAITH."
IT'S IMPORTANT TO REALIZE THAT WE CAN'T BE SAVED BY
OUR OWN GOOD WORKS.
BUT THERE IS A SENSE IN WHICH WE CAN BE SAVED BY
GOOD WORKS.
AND THAT IS, THE GOOD WORKS OF JESUS CHRIST AND
HIM CRUCIFIED.
JESUS WAS FULLY DIVINE, AND HE WAS FULLY HUMAN.
AND HE LIVED A PERFECT LIFE AND THEN OFFERED
HIMSELF AS A SACRIFICE FOR SINNERS ON OUR BEHALF SO
THAT IF WE ACCEPT HIM AS OUR SAVIOR AND LORD AFTER
HAVING REPENTED OF OUR SINS, WE CAN FIND THE FREE
GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE AND WHAT A DIFFERENCE IT MAKES
IN OUR LIVES WHEN WE DO SO.
JERRY, GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH US.
THANKS SO MUCH.
THANK YOU, FRANK.
PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU HERE.
AT THE CENTER OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH- INDEED,
AT THE CENTER OF ALL HUMAN HISTORY- STANDS THE EVENT
THAT HAPPENED ON EASTER SUNDAY MORNING NEARLY
2000 YEARS AGO.
BUT HOW DO WE KNOW IT'S TRUE?
HERE'S DR. D. JAMES KENNEDY WITH A PORTION
OF HIS MESSAGE,
"HOW I KNOW CHRIST ROSE FROM THE DEAD."
THE ADHERENTS OF MOST OF THE GREAT RELIGIONS OF THE
WORLD CAN TAKE THEIR FRIENDS- IF THEY HAPPEN TO
BE TRAVELING TO THE RIGHT SPOT- TO A CERTAIN PLACE
AND SAY WITH SOME, I BELIEVE, MISGUIDED PRIDE,
THAT "HERE IS THE GRAVE OF OUR GREAT FOUNDER."
THIS, CHRISTIANS CANNOT DO.
BECAUSE WE CANNOT SAY, "HERE LIES THE BODY OF THE
GREAT FOUNDER OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION"-
BECAUSE THE TOMB IS EMPTY.
JESUS IS NOT THERE; HE HAS RISEN FROM THE DEAD.
TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOU ON THE
SUBJECT HOW I KNOW THAT CHRIST ROSE FROM THE DEAD,
AND THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT
WE CAN EVER KNOW IN THIS WORLD.
I'D LIKE TO QUICKLY MENTION THREE REASONS WHY
IT'S IMPORTANT.
IT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THIS IS THE FOUNDATION OF
OUR FAITH.
WITH THE RESURRECTION STANDS OR FALLS THE
CHRISTIAN RELIGION.
AS PAUL SAID, "IF CHRIST BE NOT RAISED, WE ARE OF
ALL MEN MOST MISERABLE, WE ARE YET IN OUR SINS"
SECONDLY, IT IS THE RESURRECTION TO WHICH WE
CAN REPAIR IN TIMES OF DOUBT AND TRIAL.
WHEN IT MAY SEEM THAT OTHER THINGS ARE GOING
WRONG AND QUESTIONS COME INTO OUR MIND, WE CAN
ALWAYS GO TO THE RESURRECTION.
FLEE THERE TO THAT GREAT GIBRALTAR OF OUR FAITH AND
FIND SOLACE FOR OUR SOULS IN THE CERTAINTY OF OUR
SALVATION, RESTED UPON THE MANY INFALLIBLE PROOFS
THAT CHRIST HAS GIVEN OF HIS RESURRECTION LIFE.
THIRDLY, BECAUSE IT'S THE MOST POWERFUL WEAPON IN
THE ARSENAL OF THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER.
THOSE WHO WOULD BE EFFECTIVE WITNESSES FOR
CHRIST NEED TO REALIZE THAT THE RESURRECTION IS
THE UNASSAILABLE FORTRESS OF CHRISTIANITY.
ALL OF THE EFFORTS OF ALL OF THE SKEPTICS DOWN
THROUGH THE CENTURIES HAVE UTTERLY FAILED TO EVEN
PUT A DENT IN IT.
TO GIVE YOU SOME IDEA OF HOW SOLID AND CERTAIN IS
THE EVIDENCE FOR THE RESURRECTION; LET ME JUST
GIVE YOU MY CONCLUSION FIRST.
MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT CHRISTIANITY IS BASED UPON
LEGENDS, OR MYTHS, OR UNCERTAINTIES- THINGS THAT
WE REALLY DON'T KNOW ABOUT- AND THE "WISH" IS
REALLY FATHER OF THE THOUGHT, AND THAT THESE
ALL DISAPPEAR INTO THE MISTS OF TIME, AND THERE
IS NO REAL SOLID EVIDENCE FOR IT AT ALL.
WELL, THEY COULD NOT POSSIBLY BE MORE MISTAKEN.
THE NUMBER OF TESTIMONIES FROM HISTORIANS AND LEGAL
SCHOLARS IS SO INNUMERABLE THAT IT WOULD TAKE ME THE
REST OF THIS MESSAGE JUST TO QUOTE THEM.
SO I'LL LIMIT MYSELF TO ONE, PROFESSOR THOMAS
ARNOLD, IS OF COURSE THE AUTHOR OF THE FAMOUS
THREE-VOLUME HISTORY OF ROME.
AND WAS APPOINTED TO THE CHAIR OF MODERN HISTORY AT
OXFORD, NOW OXFORD IS THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS
INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING IN THE WORLD- AND
TO BE APPOINTED TO THE CHAIR OF MODERN HISTORY IS
INDEED A TREMENDOUS HONOR.
THIS GREAT HISTORIAN AND SCHOLAR SAID THIS, LISTEN
CAREFULLY: "I HAVE BEEN USED FOR MANY YEARS TO
STUDY THE HISTORIES OF OTHER TIMES, AND TO
EXAMINE AND WEIGH THE EVIDENCE OF THOSE WHO HAVE
WRITTEN ABOUT THEM, AND I KNOW OF NO ONE FACT IN THE
HISTORY OF MANKIND WHICH IS PROVED BY BETTER AND
FULLER EVIDENCE OF EVERY SORT, TO THE UNDERSTANDING
OF A FAIR INQUIRER, THAN THE GREAT SIGN WHICH GOD
HAS GIVEN US THAT CHRIST DIED AND ROSE AGAIN FROM
THE DEAD."
AGAIN THIS GREAT PROFESSOR, MODERN HISTORY,
OXFORD, SAID I KNOW OF NO ONE FACT IN ALL OF HISTORY
WHICH IS PROVED BY BETTER AND FULLER EVIDENCE OF
EVERY SORT, THAN THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST.
MY FRIENDS, IF THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST BE
NOT TRUE, THEN WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT
ANYTHING IN ALL OF THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD,
BECAUSE THIS IS THE BEST PROVED SINGLE FACT OF ALL.
IN THE FULL VERSION OF THIS MESSAGE, WHICH WE'LL
OFFER YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO OBTAIN A LITTLE LATER
IN THIS PROGRAM, DR. KENNEDY GOES ON TO
DETAIL THE FOUR MAJOR EVIDENCES FOR THE
RESURRECTION, WHILE ALSO REFUTING THE UNBELIEVING,
NATURALISTIC EXPLANATIONS GIVEN FOR DENYING THAT
CHRIST ROSE FROM THE GRAVE.
YOU'RE ABOUT TO MEET ONE MAN WHO SET OUT TO
DISCREDIT CHRISTIANITY BY SIFTING THROUGH THE
EVIDENCE TO PROVE THAT THE RESURRECTION WAS FALSE.
BUT LEE STROBEL'S QUEST CHALLENGED EVERYTHING HE
BELIEVED.
I SPENT MY ENTIRE CAREER AS A JOURNALIST,
UNCOVERING THE TRUTH.
TILL THE DAY MY WIFE PRESENTED ME WITH THE
BIGGEST STORY OF MY LIFE.
I'M NOT GOING TO LOSE MY WIFE AND MY KIDS TO SOME
THING THAT I CAN'T EVEN REASON WITH.
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT, CHANGED ME
FOREVER.
THE CASE FOR CHRIST MOVIE DRAMATIZES THE REAL LIFE
EVENTS, WHEN SELF-PROCLAIMED ATHEIST
LEE STROBEL FINDS OUT HIS WIFE LESLIE SUDDENLY CAME
TO FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST.
MOM, WHO IS JESUS?
WE ARE ATHEISTS.
ATHEISTS DON'T BELIEVE IN GOD.
WHEN I BECAME A BELIEVER IN CHRIST AND I CAME TO
LEE AND TALKED TO HIM ABOUT THAT, I COULD JUST
SENSE A WALL GOING UP EMOTIONALLY.
I TALKED TO JESUS, I TOLD HIM I WANT HIM IN MY LIFE.
YOU WHAT? WHY?
VERBALLY, HE WAS PRETTY ADAMANT ON HOW HE FELT
ABOUT THINGS.
HE TOLD ME THAT HE DIDN'T WANT ME GOING TO CHURCH,
HE DIDN'T WANT ME GIVING THEM ANY MONEY, AND HE
DIDN'T WANT ME TO BE BUGGING HIM ABOUT GOING
WITH ME TO CHURCH.
WELL, YOU KNOW, MY BACKGROUND IS IN
JOURNALISM AND LAW SO I TEND TO BE SOMEONE WHO
RESPONDS TO EVIDENCE AND FACTS AND DATA.
SO I THINK THAT THAT WAS A CONTRIBUTOR TO ME BEING AN
ATHEIST, I WOULDN'T SAY IT'S THE ONLY CONTRIBUTOR,
I THINK IT USUALLY ISN'T FOR PEOPLE.
I THINK INTELLECTUAL OBSTACLES CAN BE A
PROBLEM, BUT THERE'S ALSO EMOTIONAL ISSUES AND MORAL
ISSUES.
I WAS HAPPY IN MY SIN, I DIDN'T WANT TO CHANGE MY
LIFE, AND I HAD A DIFFICULT RELATIONSHIP
WITH MY FATHER AND OFTEN, AS WE'VE SEEN THROUGH
HISTORY OF FAMOUS ATHEISTS, THAT THAT CAN
LEAD TO PEOPLE WHO ARE RETICENT OR RELUCTANT TO
MEET A HEAVENLY FATHER IF THEIR EARTHLY FATHER HURT
OR DISAPPOINTED THEM.
FOR LEE, HE NEEDED FACTS.
HE WANTED TO KNOW THE HISTORY THAT WAS INVOLVED.
HE NEEDED TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THERE WAS OUT THERE
THAT HE COULD LOOK AT AND INVESTIGATE TO KNOW
WHETHER THE CLAIMS OF CHRIST WERE TRUE.
FOR ME, I DIDN'T NEED THAT, IT WAS A PERSONAL
RELATIONSHIP RIGHT OFF THE BAT FOR ME, AND GOD MADE
HIMSELF VERY CLEAR TO ME IN JUST READING THE
SCRIPTURES AND HAVING THEM COME ALIVE.
THE FACT THAT THE GOSPELS ARE FILLED WITH
CONTRADICTIONS ABOUT THE EMPTY TOMB OK IF I TURNED
IN A STORY THAT WAS THIS JUMBLED, I'D BE OUT OF A
JOB.
IN RESPONSE TO HIS WIFE'S NEWFOUND FAITH, LEE
STROBEL SET OUT TO PROVE HER WRONG.
AS AN AWARD-WINNING INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST
WITH THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE, LEE MADE IT A PROJECT TO
DISPROVE ONCE AND FOR ALL THE CLAIMS OF
CHRISTIANITY- SPECIFICALLY THE CLAIM THAT JESUS ROSE
FROM THE DEAD.
SURE THERE ARE DIFFERENCES BUT THAT DOESN'T TROUBLE
MOST HISTORIANS.
WHY?
WHY DOESN'T THAT TROUBLE, IT TROUBLES ME IT SHOULD
TROUBLE THEM.
1 CORINTHIANS 15:17 WHERE HE SAID, "IF CHRIST HAS
NOT BEEN RAISED, YOUR FAITH IS FUTILE, YOU'RE
STILL IN YOUR SINS."
SO IN A SENSE HE'S SAYING IF YOU CAN FALSIFY THE
CHRISTIAN FAITH BY SHOWING THE RESURRECTION DIDN'T
HAPPEN, YOU'RE FULLY JUSTIFIED IN WALKING AWAY.
IF THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS DIDN'T HAPPEN, IT'S
A HOUSE OF CARDS.
AND IT WAS JUST CLOSE TO A TWO YEAR INVESTIGATION
PROCESS, BUT ONE THAT REALLY, AT TIMES, HAD US
BOTH WONDERING WHETHER WE WOULD SURVIVE IT.
DO YOU WANNA REALLY KNOW THE TRUTH OR IS YOUR MIND
ALREADY MADE UP?
IN HIS EFFORT TO DISPROVE IT, LEE STROBEL HAD TO
TAKE AN HONEST LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE FOR THE
RESURRECTION FOR THE FIRST TIME.
SO, WE LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE.
WHAT IS THE EVIDENCE?
WELL, FIRST THE EXECUTION OF JESUS IS HISTORICALLY
INDISPUTABLE.
WE HAVE FIVE ANCIENT SOURCES OUTSIDE THE BIBLE
CONFIRMING HIS EXECUTION.
EVEN THE GREAT ATHEIST NEW TESTAMENT SCHOLAR GERD
LÜDEMANN SAYS THAT JESUS' DEATH BY CRUCIFIXION IS
INDISPUTABLE.
SECONDLY, THE EMPTY TOMB.
YOU KNOW, WHAT HIT ME ABOUT THAT IS EVEN THE
OPPONENTS OF JESUS CONCEDED THAT THE TOMB WAS
EMPTY AND WE HAVE SOURCES OUTSIDE AND INSIDE THE
BIBLE THAT TELL US THAT WHEN THE DISCIPLES BEGAN
PROCLAIMING THAT JESUS HAD RISEN, WHAT THE OPPONENT
SAID WAS, "OH, WELL, UM, UH, THE DISCIPLES STOLE
THE BODY."
NOW WHAT IS THAT?
THAT'S A COVER STORY.
THEY'RE CONCEDING THE TOMB IS EMPTY; THEY'RE TRYING
TO EXPLAIN HOW IT GOT EMPTY.
SO NOBODY WAS SAYING THAT THE TOMB WAS FILLED WITH
THE BODY OF JESUS; EVERYBODY WAS SAYING
IT WAS GONE.
AND THEN THIRDLY, AND PERHAPS THE MOST, THE
CLINCHER IS THAT WE HAVE NINE ANCIENT SOURCES
INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE NEW TESTAMENT CONFIRMING AND
CORROBORATING THAT THE CONVICTION OF THE
DISCIPLES THAT THEY ENCOUNTERED THE
RESURRECTED JESUS.
THAT IS AN AVALANCHE OF HISTORICAL DATA.
WHEN YOU CONSIDER MOST OF WHAT WE KNOW FROM ANCIENT
HISTORY IS FROM ONE OR TWO SOURCES, BUT NINE ANCIENT
SOURCES INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE NEW TESTAMENT THAT IS
A CONVINCING AMOUNT OF EVIDENCE THAT CONVINCED ME
THAT THE DISCIPLES ENCOUNTERED THE
RESURRECTED JESUS, IT CHANGED THEIR LIVES, IT
CHANGED EVERYTHING ABOUT THEM.
THEY WERE WILLING TO DIE FOR.
WE HAVE SEVEN ANCIENT SOURCES INSIDE AND OUTSIDE
THE NEW TESTAMENT THAT SAY THE DISCIPLES WERE WILLING
TO SUFFER LIVES OF DEPRIVATION AND SUFFERING
AS A RESULT OF THEIR PROCLAMATION.
AFTER A YEAR AND NINE MONTHS OF INVESTIGATING
THE EVIDENCE CONFIRMING THE REALITY THAT CHRIST,
INDEED, ROSE FROM THE DEAD, IT WAS TIME FOR
STROBEL TO REACH A VERDICT.
SO I SAT DOWN, REVIEWED ALL THE EVIDENCE AND
REALIZED THAT IN LIGHT OF THE AVALANCHE OF EVIDENCE
THAT POINTS SO POWERFULLY TOWARD THE TRUTH OF
CHRISTIANITY, IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN MORE FAITH TO
MAINTAIN MY ATHEISM, THAN TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN.
THAT THE SCALES HAD TIPPED DECISIVELY.
SO I SAID, "I BELIEVE IT!"
I BELIEVE BASED ON THE DATA THAT JESUS CLAIMED TO
BE THE SON OF GOD, HE BACKED IT UP BY RETURNING
FROM THE DEAD.
BUT THAT'S NOT ENOUGH BECAUSE I LOOKED AT JOHN
1:12 SAYS "BUT AS MANY AS RECEIVED HIM, TO THEM HE
GAVE THE RIGHT TO BECOME THE CHILDREN OF GOD EVEN
TO THOSE WHO BELIEVED IN HIS NAME."
SO I SAID, OK THAT FORMS AN EQUATION OF WHAT IT
MEANS TO BECOME A CHILD OF GOD.
BELIEVE PLUS RECEIVE EQUALS BECOME.
THE SUNDAY AFTERNOON THAT LEE BECAME A CHRISTIAN WAS
JUST ONE OF THOSE, IT'S BURNED INTO MY MEMORY,
BECAUSE IT WAS, FIRST OF ALL, A SURPRISE.
I HAD NO IDEA HE WAS THAT CLOSE TO BECOMING A
CHRISTIAN.
IT'S NOT JUST KNOWING, IT'S NOT JUST BELIEVING,
THERE'S RECEIVING.
AND SO THAT NEXT STEP OF SAYING, YOU KNOW,
REPENTING OF YOUR SIN, CONFESSING IT, TURNING
FROM IT, RECEIVING THIS FREE GIFT- FREE GIFT!
OF FORGIVENESS AND ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.
AND THEN THE BIBLE SAYS YOU BECOME BORN AGAIN,
THEN YOU BECOME A CHILD OF GOD, NOW YOU CAN HAVE A
RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THAT WILL BE THE BIGGEST JOY OF
YOUR LIFE IN THIS WORLD AND THEN CONTINUE ON IN A
PERFECT WAY IN A WORLD TO COME.
LEE STROBEL SET OUT TO DISPROVE THE TRUTH OF
CHRISTIANITY- BUT HE DISCOVERED THAT HE
COULDN'T DO IT, AND HE BECAME A BELIEVER.
THAT'S HOW POWERFUL THE OBJECTIVE TRUTH OF
CHRISTIANITY IS.
BUT HOW MANY DON'T KNOW THAT?
DO YOU KNOW IT?
WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO A FRIEND OR
LOVED ONE WHY THEY SHOULD BELIEVE JESUS IS GOD, OR
THAT HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD?
WELL WE HAVE SOME OUTSTANDING RESOURCES TO
HELP YOU DO THAT, AND HERE'S MY VERY GOOD FRIEND
JENNIFER KENNEDY CASSIDY TO TELL US MORE.
JENNIFER WELCOME.
THANK YOU, FRANK.
MY DAD, DR. D. JAMES KENNEDY, LOVED SETTING
OUT THE FACTS OF CHRISTIANITY.
HE WAS AN EDUCATED MAN, WITH A DOCTORATE FROM NEW
YORK UNIVERSITY.
AND HE LOVED SHOWING THAT THE INTELLECT CONFIRMS THE
CHRISTIAN FAITH RATHER THAN DISPROVING IT.
HE PREACHED SOME OF HIS GREATEST MESSAGES ON THOSE
SUBJECTS, AND WE WANT TO SHARE THE CREAM OF THE
CROP WITH YOU TODAY.
WE'VE PUT TOGETHER A SERIES OF MESSAGES WHICH
ARE INCLUDED IN THE BRAND-NEW KENNEDY
COLLECTION HARDCOVER BOOK, HOW I KNOW.
AMONG THE TOPICS MY FATHER COVERS ARE, HOW I KNOW
THERE IS A GOD, HOW I KNOW THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF
GOD, HOW I KNOW JESUS IS GOD, AND HOW I KNOW CHRIST
ROSE FROM THE DEAD.
AND WE WANT TO SEND YOU THIS IMPORTANT BOOK AS OUR
THANKS FOR YOUR GENEROUS DONATION TO THE ONGOING
WORK OF THIS MINISTRY.
SIMPLY WRITE TO US AT:
OR CALL TOLL FREE:
OR GO ONLINE TO:
EACH OF THE MESSAGES IN THIS BOOK DEALS WITH A
SUBJECT THAT SHOULD BE ESSENTIAL BIBLICAL
KNOWLEDGE FOR THOSE WHO PROFESS TO LOVE THE LORD
JESUS CHRIST, AS WELL AS FOR THOSE WHO ARE SEEKING
TO KNOW HIM.
AND WE'RE ALSO MAKING THESE MESSAGES AVAILABLE
ON A 4-DVD, OR 4-CD SET.
YOU SAW JUST A SHORT PORTION OF THE MESSAGE
"HOW I KNOW CHRIST ROSE FROM THE DEAD" EARLIER IN
THIS PROGRAM.
IN THIS SET, YOU CAN WATCH THE FULL MESSAGE AS WELL
AS THREE OTHER FULL-LENGTH MESSAGES- WHICH ARE SOME
OF THE BEST MY FATHER EVER PREACHED.
THE APOSTLE JOHN WRITES IN THE BIBLE, "THESE THINGS I
HAVE WRITTEN TO YOU WHO BELIEVE IN THE NAME OF THE
SON OF GOD, THAT YOU MAY KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ETERNAL
LIFE."
WE ARE NOT LEFT TO GUESS ABOUT THE TRUTH.
GOD INTENDS FOR US TO KNOW THAT HE'S REAL, THAT
CHRIST IS HIS SON, AND THAT HE ROSE FROM THE
DEAD.
FIND THE TRUTH THAT WILL SOLIDIFY THE FOUNDATION
UNDER YOU, AND HELP BUILD A FOUNDATION FOR NEW
BELIEVERS OR EVEN THOSE WHO'VE NOT YET COME TO
FAITH.
WE'LL SEND YOU THE HARDCOVER BOOK AND THE
4-DVD OR 4-CD SET HOW I KNOW AS OUR THANKS FOR
YOUR GENEROUS DONATION OF $50 OR MORE.
SIMPLY WRITE TO US AT:
OR CALL TOLL FREE:
OR GO ONLINE TO:
DURING THE RECENT TOTAL ECLIPSE, ONE
ACTOR/COMEDIAN TWEETED TO HIS 50,000 FOLLOWERS,
"RELIGIOUS PEOPLE, TAKE THIS MOMENT TO REALIZE
THAT YOUR BELIEFS CAME FROM PEOPLE
MISUNDERSTANDING EVENTS SUCH AS THIS."
OF COURSE, THIS SORT OF SMUGNESS MAY BE WHY ONLY A
VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE IDENTIFY AS
ATHEISTS.
BUT IT ALSO DEMONSTRATES INCREDIBLE IGNORANCE.
FIRST, IT OVERLOOKS THE FACT THAT MODERN SCIENCE,
THE VERY THING HE BOWS TO IS LARGELY A PRODUCT OF
CHRISTIANITY.
IT WAS CHRISTIANS "THINKING GOD'S THOUGHTS
AFTER HIM," AS THE ASTRONOMER JOHANNES
KEPPLER PUT IT, WHO GAVE US MODERN SCIENCE.
THE ATHEISTIC WORLDVIEW, IN WHICH THE ENTIRE
UNIVERSE ACCIDENTALLY POPPED INTO BEING WITHOUT
REASON OR GUIDANCE, WOULD MAKE SCIENCE IMPOSSIBLE IF
ATHEISTS WERE NOT CONTINUING TO BORROW
INTELLECTUAL WOOD FROM THE CHRISTIAN LOG PILE TO
BUILD THEIR OWN EDIFICE.
BUT BEYOND THAT, THIS ACTOR'S ASSUMPTION IS THAT
ANCIENT PEOPLE WERE IGNORAMUSES WHO COMMONLY
MISTOOK NATURAL PHENOMENA FOR SUPERNATURAL ONES.
HOWEVER SUCH A VIEW IS SIMPLY HISTORICALLY AND
THEOLOGICALLY ILLITERATE.
BABYLONIAN CLAY TABLETS SHOW ECLIPSE RECORDS FROM
MORE THAN A THOUSAND YEARS BEFORE CHRIST.
THE ANCIENTS KNEW IT WAS THE MOON ECLIPSING THE
SUN, AND WERE EVEN ABLE TO PREDICT ECLIPSES.
IT'S COMMON TO ATTRIBUTE BACKWARDNESS TO ANCIENT
PEOPLE.
BUT THEY KNEW WHERE BABIES CAME FROM ALSO, WHICH IS
WHY CHRIST'S VIRGIN BIRTH WAS PROPERLY CONSIDERED A
MIRACLE.
AND THEY KNEW DEAD MEN STAY DEAD.
SO WHEN THEY SAW JESUS CHRIST CRUCIFIED BY THE
ROMAN GOVERNMENT, HIS DEAD BODY PLACED IN A TOMB, AND
THREE DAYS LATER DISCOVERED THE TOMB WAS
EMPTY- WITH THE RISEN JESUS CHRIST BEING SEEN BY
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE- THEY KNEW IT WAS A SUPERNATURAL
MIRACLE.
THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO THINK SUCH THINGS ARE EASY TO
DISMISS ARE THOSE WHO'VE NEVER SERIOUSLY LOOKED AT
THEM.
SKEPTICS HAVE TRIED FOR MILLENNIA TO FIND
ALTERNATE EXPLANATIONS FOR THE EMPTY TOMB ON EASTER
MORNING- AND ALL OF THEM HAVE FAILED.
NO SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATION MAKES SENSE OF THE
HISTORICAL DATA- NO EXPLANATION EXCEPT THE
RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST.
NOW IF OUR ACTOR FRIEND WOULD'VE TWEETED THAT,
WELL THAT WOULD BE SAYING SOMETHING.
D. JAMES KENNEDY MINISTRIES IS STANDING FOR TRUTH AND
DEFENDING YOUR FREEDOM.
I'M FRANK WRIGHT.
THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM,
WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME!
NEXT WEEK ON TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM.
WE ARE SURROUNDED, EVERYWHERE WE TURN,
WITH THE BIBLE'S INFLUENCE.
AND THAT'S ONE THING THAT WE ARE TRYING TO SHOW IN
THE MUSEUM.
THE BIBLE IS THE MOST ASTONISHING AND INCREDIBLE
BOOK IN THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF THE HUMAN RACE, AND
CHRISTIANS HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT IT WAS THE
WORD OF GOD.
THAT'S NEXT WEEK.
TODAY'S PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE ON DVD FOR YOUR
GIFT TO THIS MINISTRY OF ANY AMOUNT.
PLEASE CALL, WRITE, OR LOG ON TO OUR WEBSITE TODAY.
THIS HAS BEEN A PRODUCTION OF
D. JAMES KENNEDY MINISTRIES
For more infomation >> YouTube TV Now Available
For more infomation >> Como Funciona? - Pneu M+S é um Pneu de Inverno? - Duration: 14:29. 
For more infomation >> দেখুন মটু পাতলুর আসল কন্ঠ কে দেয়।। অবাক করা একটি ভিডিও।। - Duration: 1:36. 
For more infomation >> Audi A1 Sportback 1.0 TFSI S-Tronic Aut. Ultra 5-DRS Pro Line (Navi/Airco/Bluetooth) - Duration: 1:00. 
For more infomation >> Recette de soupe pour brûler la graisse, vous perdez du poids rapidement en 7 jours - Duration: 4:24. 
For more infomation >> Bayerns Naturerbe in Gefahr! - Duration: 1:13. 
For more infomation >> Débarrassez-vous de la graisse du dos et des bras grâce à ces 4 exercices rapides ! - Duration: 6:05. 
For more infomation >> ■D+9 / No Race, so off to Vienna! (시합 없는 날은 비엔나 나들이) ■ - Duration: 8:38. 
For more infomation >> ■D+8 / Racing at FINA World Masters, Outdoor Pool! (세계선수권 야외수영장에서 시합) ■ - Duration: 5:33. 
For more infomation >> Ce mélange élimine toutes les imperfections de la peau dans une seule application! - Duration: 4:11. 
For more infomation >> Mathilde Seigner se confie sur sa relation avec Mathieu Petit… et c'est très drôle ! - Duration: 2:20. 
For more infomation >> Iris Mittenaere devra rendre son diadème de Miss Univers plus tôt que prévu, ses fans sont - Duration: 2:47. 
For more infomation >> Learn Spanish with real life events: Las fiestas de la ciudad - Duration: 11:13. 
For more infomation >> 【楽天】辛島、自己新９勝へ「まずはいい形で」 - Duration: 2:50. 
No comments:
Post a Comment