Have You Heard?

 Have You Heard?

 Do you believe rumors, tall tales, or what some call old wives' tales?  The Bible is not place for myth, fable, or fiction but  separates the wheat from the chaff.  We all tend to have so-called confirmation bias and  believe that which already agrees with our worldview and tend to  believe the party line whatever that may be to us. "Is is hard to kick against the goads," as Paul found out on the road to Damascus, to fight God's will and go our own way. 

God cannot lie nor break a promise (Heb. 6:18) and it was not only prophesied that Christ would die and rise but it happened just as they said and as Jesus had foretold several times. We must not half-believe but with our whole heart and let God change it from the inside out! We realize we only come to a knowledge of the truth by grace (Acts 18:27) when God grants it and it is not by speculation or conjecture but by revelation. It had been so-called hearsay according to some disciples until they saw the risen Lord in person. "But we were eyewitnesses of His majesty..."   (2 Pet. 1:16).  Jesus had taught them all the prophets had foretold that had to be fulfilled. Jesus didn't just make a truth claim that He is God but proved it by rising from the dead (Acts 17:31; Romans 1:4).   He didn't cheat death, nor escape death, but defeated death by rising from it in His own power and authority granted of the Father. 

Some claim they are ignorant and haven't heard the gospel and ignorance is an excuse with God or even bliss! Where have they been living? Haven't they heard of the most important historical figure of Western Civilization and the biggest revolutionist of all time? Clearly the dominate figure of history!  Practically everyone has heard something about Jesus and His resurrection, even if they don't believe it. God judges one according to the God they do know and reject, their own conscience bearing witness against them. 

Jesus came to bear witness of the truth and "those who belong to the truth hear [Him]."  He is the very incarnation of Truth with a capital T. We know this because a few brave disciples risked their lives to spread the good word or the biblical evangel or gospel.  We don't have to be eyewitnesses because Jesus had eyewitnesses, and they were not consummate liars and deluded madmen but saw the Lord and were willing to be martyrs for it. These  testimonies are not the rantings and ravings of madmen.  

It is a fact that He rose from the dead is history and is "arguably the most attested fact in antiquity." (Dr. D. James Kennedy). It is either the biggest and cruelest hoax perpetrated on humanity or the best news ever known. It proves the deity of Christ and gives us hope of a resurrection. Blessed are those who have not seen yet believe! We need to believe in our hearts and let Christ rise in them for salvation, it must mean something to us and be personal, for the demons believe and tremble.

There is plenty of circumstantial evidence for it but no "smoking gun" evidence for evidence isn't always compelling, certain, convincing, or conclusive. We cannot prove beyond a shadow of a doubt because God desires faith (trusting in what we have good reason to believe). Only faith and not reason or works please God unto salvation,. Everyone must take the leap of faith into the light.     

In sum, the Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are sons of God (Rom. 8:16) and our hearts burn within us as the truth resonates.    Soli Deo Gloria!