Dear Friends,
This month we’ll look at the remaining four signposts of truth as I continue
the series on heaven which I began in January.*
Signpost # 5 – The Existence of Miracles. The Judeo-Christian
faith is grounded on the miraculous from God’s creation of the universe
(ex nihilo – out of nothing, i.e. no preexistent matter; Hebrews 11:3)
to God’s on-going intervention embedded in space-time history. Thus Christianity
stands or falls on the historicity of these miracles. This is not true for other
religions. A Biblical miracle is a phenomenon that occurs in history that is
so radically different from the ordinary operations of nature that the event
must be attributed to the direct intervention of a supernatural agent –
namely the Lord. We often say the birth of a baby is a miracle but this is not
how Scripture defines a miracle. Science cannot prove or disprove miracles but
can only describe what can be observed (e.g., the origin of the universe was
obviously not observed) and even then repeatedly observed. History is strewn
with discarded scientific theories. God does not alter the regular order of
nature through a miracle but He does supercede the natural order through the
specific event. (Jesus turning water into wine – John 2:1-11) Jesus’
miraculous birth (Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:26-38) life and ministry (Isaiah 35:5-6;
John 20:30) and especially His bodily resurrection authenticate both His claims
to be God’s Messiah and the validity of miracles. His thirty-five recorded
miracles (plus many other unrecorded “signs” or miracles –
John 20:30; 25:21) demonstrated supernatural power over nature, disease, demons
and death to redeem, restore, provide and bless out of His love and compassion
for people as well as a picture of the coming kingdom of God and the renewal
of all things. (Revelation 21:1-5) His miracles, especially His resurrection,
set Him apart from all other religious leaders. Miracles do not create faith
but can be a catalyst to faith and God the Holy Spirit continues to perform
miracles today. (1 Corinthians 12:10) In fact, I heard about one this morning
over breakfast from a very reliable source. Even though the Pharisees never
denied Jesus’ miracles (they ascribed them to Satan) most of them did
not put their trust in Him for salvation. Although salvation is not a miracle
per se in another since it is the greatest miracle one can experience. Through
salvation we are raised from being spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:5) to being
born again into eternal life by the mercy of God as we call on the name of the
Lord Jesus Christ by faith. (Romans 10:9-13) And I say as Paul said, “I
beg you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20)
Signpost # 6 – The Bodily Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus’ bodily resurrection from the dead (not resuscitation – He
came back in a new form of humanity and never died again) in space-time history
is the most important signpost to validate the Christian faith and the hope
and promise of our resurrection and the reality of life after death –
heaven. (See 1 Corinthians 15) Many skeptics, attorneys and atheists, like the
doubting Thomas (John 20:24-29) have fallen to their knees and believed on Jesus
at the weight of evidence in favor of the resurrection. (C.S. Lewis,
Malcolm Muggeridge) Both the Biblical account and Jewish historians report the
facts that Jesus was crucified and died (John 19:34-35 the flow of blood and
water is medical evidence for death). The tomb, which was opened by an angel
of the Lord (Matthew 28:2), allowed the eyewitnesses to see that Jesus was not
there and to view the undisturbed grave clothes they buried Him in. (John 20:3-8)
The religious leaders who had Him crucified never denied the empty tomb or produced
His dead body. They even bribed the soldiers who guarded the tomb to lie and
say that Jesus’ disciples stole the body. (Matthew 28:11-15) Jesus appeared
to many for a 40-day period. (1 Corinthians 15:4-8) He walked with them, talked
with them, ate with them and instructed them on the continuation of His mission.
(Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20-21; Acts 1:1-11) He then ascended into
heaven in the presence of His disciples. (Luke 24:50-53)
Signpost # 7 – The Changed Lives and Testimony of the Disciples.
Before Jesus’ resurrection the disciples were discouraged and fearful
(John 20:19) but afterwards they began to fearlessly proclaim the gospel “He
is risen”. Their transformation was complete, unanimous and permanent,
and they joyfully suffered for His name (Acts 5:40-41) and His gospel with all
but one them dying a martyr’s death. The suicidal death of Islamic fanatics
brings death to others for the cause of Allah. The disciples and other Christian
martyrs are murdered for their efforts to bring eternal life to others.
Signpost #8 – The Claims and Credentials of Jesus Christ.
“He (Jesus Christ) is the radiance of His (God’s) glory and the
exact representation of His nature.” (Hebrews 1:3) Jesus claimed He was
God. “I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30) “He who has
seen Me, has seen the Father.” (John 14:9) “Truly, truly, I say
to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” (John 8:58) This is an explicit
claim to deity from Exodus 3:14 where God identified Himself as “I Am
Who I Am”. Jesus also claimed He had the power to forgive sins, which
can only be ascribed to God. (Mark 2:5-11; Luke 7:48) He claimed that all mankind
would face Him in Judgment (John 5:22, 27) both believers (1 Corinthians 3:10-15;
2 Corinthians 5:10) and unbelievers (Revelation 20:11-15). Christ also claimed
eternality (John 17:5), omnipresence (Matthew 18:20; 28:20) and sinlessness
(John 8:46). And He claimed to be the only way to salvation. “I am the
way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”
(John 14:6; Acts 4:12: 1 Timothy 2:5) Jesus predicted His own resurrection on
the third day and announced that this would be the most significant sign for
the affirmation of His truth claims. (Matthew 12:38-40; John 2:18-22; Romans
1:1-4)
(JESUS) THROUGH THE SPIRIT OF HOLINESS WAS DECLARED WITH POWER TO BE
THE SON OF GOD BY HIS RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD: JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD. (SEE
ROMANS 1:1-4) “THEREFORE GOD EXALTED HIM TO THE HIGHEST PLACE AND GAVE
HIM THE NAME THAT IS ABOVE EVERY NAME, THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE
SHOULD BOW, IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH AND UNDER THE EARTH, AND EVERY TONGUE CONFESS
THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER.” (PHILIPPIANS
2:9-11)
Jesus is Lord,
Len and Kristen
* Taken from Heaven Observed by Barry Morrow. Other recommended books
on apologetics: Faith Has Its Reasons and I’m Glad You Asked
by Dr. Ken Boa