The internal evidence of the New Testament contains the most powerful and convincing witness …
(i) to the truthfulness of Jesus as the Son of God, Saviour and King of kings,
(ii) of the Christian faith, that it is the faith God has prepared for His redeemed people, drawn from all nations, and
(iii) of the certainty of our hope of eternal life.
What Jesus taught, what He did and didn't do, what He claimed about Himself, what He predicted and what He started … are all evidences of the true Jesus and the religion He began. This is the best evidence because it is God's own testimony in the context of real history. God doesn't tell lies. And if these aren't the words of Almighty God, as He inspired men to write them, John 16:13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21, where are the real words - how would we ever know anything about God and eternity? What follows is some of this divine testimony, and there is still more. But we will never be convinced - and benefit from a sure, eternal hope - if we don't read it with an open mind. There is much to gain if we read it and believe, but much to lose if we don't read it or don't believe it. I have left some references here without comment for you to think about what evidence they contain.
When we put the simply unbelievable signs and claims of Jesus against his clearly undeniable character and teaching, a reasonable, open mind can draw only one conclusion. Are you up to it?
"Jesus Christ made claims about his identity that have implications for everyone. His claims were unique and separate Him from every other figure in history. As we examine the claims of Jesus Christ it is important to ask ourselves whether His life demonstrates the authority and validity of His claims." (www.thetruthofjudgmentday.com). Will you examine them?
In regard to Jesus' miracles, ask yourself: why do I believe this really happened? Is the miracle consistent with what we know about Jesus' character and His claims about Himself ? Does it relate to something he taught or was about to teach? What is it about the miracle that would be impossible to fake? Who would have been the witnesses?
It is not just His miracles, it's also his claims about Himself, his insight, his teaching, his character, his compassion.
All of these aspects work together in helping us to know the real Jesus who walked the earth, died and rose again.
Matthew 1:1-25
Matthew 2:1-6
Matthew 3:1-3
Matthew 4:12-16
Matthew 8:1-17,23-34
Matthew 9:1-38
Matthew 26:19-28:10 Jesus' died on the cross, without any doubt. Roman soldiers know when a man is dead! Muslims claim Jesus did not die. God raised Him from death three days later, just as Jesus had predicted many times during His ministry. Why does anyone doubt this?
Mark 8:27-9:1 Jesus predicts the vindication of His reign as King before the end of the 1st century.
Mark 10:28-52 Jesus promises that followers who suffer loss will be blessed abundantly.
Mark 12:1-17 "We know you … teach the way of God in truth." (Pharisees and Herodians try to set a trap, but it backfires.)
Mark 16:15-20 Jesus predicts the preaching of the gospel will be accompanied by confirming miracles.
Luke 1:1-4,26-35,41-79 One who was not an eyewitness had checked the eyewitness reports to assess their accuracy.
Luke 4:18-21
John 2:6-3:25 Jesus' teaching on being born again must be read in this wider context to get a
better picture of what it means.
John 5:1-47
John 6:1-40 Giving thousands bread to eat to live a few days, starting with just five loaves and two fish, is a miracle. Giving them the bread of life to live eternally is a greater miracle!! Jesus' miracles weren't just for show.
John 7:25-52 No one ever spoke like Jesus!!
John 10:1-42
John 11:1-53
John 12:44-50 Everything Jesus taught came from His Heavenly Father. Jesus therefore was not simply just another street preacher airing his worldly wisdom.
John 13:36-38 Jesus' predictions always come true.
John 15:21-27 Jesus doesn't promise "peace when there is no peace." The apostles who preached Christ had been with Christ throughout His ministry and therefore are familiar with who He was and what He taught. They are therefore credible witnesses.
John 16:1-33 "I came from the Father, into the world, and am about to go back to My Father to send the Spirit."
John 17:1-26 This prayer of Jesus is a witness to why He came: to glorify His Father God.
John 18:12-19:30 Arrest, trial and death of the innocent Jesus who did not protest His innocence. Why?
John 19:31-37 An apostle tells only the truth, and several prophecies are fulfilled at His death, including the resurrection. The one predicting does not concoct the fulfilment.
John 20:1-31 The reason the life, death and resurrection of Jesus is recorded is found in this chapter.
John 21:1-24 More appearances of Jesus and more instruction from Jesus after His resurrection from death.
Acts 1:1-8 "Many convincing proofs." Appearance of and instruction by the resurrected Jesus to His apostles.
Acts 2:1-36,43 Divine prophecies are fulfilled as Christianity begins in Jerusalem.
Acts 3:1-18 The gospel-confirming miracles begin, just as Jesus predicted.
Acts 4:1-33
Acts 5:12-42
Notice all the miracles with all kinds of witnesses throughout Acts. Where is the contrary evidence that it didn't happen, when all these many and varied witnesses saw it happen? Our courts can only prove what happened because of witnesses. You do not lightly set aside the testimony of many witnesses confirming an event.
Acts 8:1-18 Even a magician can see that what God does in Christ is greater than magic.
Acts 9:1-22 It took an encounter with the resurrected Christ to turn Paul from unbeliever to believer.
Acts 14:1-18 Gentiles in Galatia admit they have seen God's power at work in a miracle.
Acts 16:16-40 It takes God's help to get out of a Roman prison, and God's love to save a Roman guard.
Acts 21:19-28:31 Paul getting to Rome is a profound miracle, with many amazing incidents along the way. Jesus' promise in 1:8 is fulfilled despite the many attempts to thwart the efforts of the apostles. The last word in the Greek text of Acts is 'akōlutōs' = 'unhindered'! Nobody stops God's purposes.
Romans 1:16-6:23 The gospel of salvation by faith must be read in full in these chapters. One verse, such as John 3:16, isn't enough. Justification by faith includes repentance and baptism as well.
1 Corinthians 15:1-24 Notice the many witnesses who saw the resurrected Jesus – more than 500 at one time!
Galatians 3:5 Another reference to the miracles. They won't go away!
Hebrews 3:1-6 If we know it takes a builder to build a house, then where did the universe come from?
Hebrews 11:1-3 Faith is based on evidence from God. The universe did not create itself.
2 Peter 1:16-21 The Old Testament prophecies were seen fulfilled by the New Testament eye-witnesses. What is recorded in the New Testament is very difficult to refute when it is reported to have happened just as the Old Testament - many centuries before - had predicted it would happen!! And God's Holy Spirit ensures an infallible recording of what took place.
So we have a three-fold evidence: the prediction, the witnesses to the fulfilment of the prediction, and the permanent, unchanging, divine record of both.
1 John 1:1-3 Jesus is not just the invention of wild imaginations; He is an historical reality who won't go away. He was seen. He was heard. He was handled. And it wasn't just that he was seen, but that he was someone you couldn't help but look at with contemplation.
What a man! Who is this remarkable person?
1 John 5:9-20 The witness of God concerning His Son, the Son revealing God and giving eternal life to
those who believe the witness, and the certainty of knowing we have eternal life.
Revelation 1-22 Suffering, victory, vindication of Christ as King with infinite power. Revelation proves that
Jesus conquered death, and what Jesus accomplished will never be overthrown.
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the bottomless pit and a heavy chain in his hand.
2 He seized the dragon—that old serpent, who is the devil, Satan—and bound him in chains for a thousand years. 3 The angel threw him into the bottomless pit, which he then shut and locked so Satan could not deceive the nations anymore until the thousand years were finished. Afterward he must be released for a little while.
4 Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They all came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
5 This is the first resurrection. (The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years had ended.) 6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them the second death holds no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him a thousand years. Revelation 20:1-6
The victory of Jesus and His faithful Christians is total and complete and forever! The evidence has been presented. We have a compelling case!! Dear friend your eternal salvation is a sure thing – based on this evidence. Believe!!
Handel's Messiah: A Scriptural Praise of the Messiah put to Music.
Handel's Messiah is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, with a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible, and from the version of the Psalms included with the Book of Common Prayer. It was first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742 and received its London premiere nearly a year later. After an initially modest public reception, the oratorio gained in popularity, eventually becoming one
of the best-known and most frequently performed choral works in Western music. (Wikipedia)
Here are all the Scriptures used in this masterful oratorio – pretty much in order of presentation:
Isaiah 40:1-5
Haggai 2:6-7
Malachi 3:1-3
Isaiah 7:14
Matthew 1:23
Isaiah 40:9 (margin) Isaiah60:1
Isaiah 60:2-3
Isaiah 9:6
Luke 2:8-11
Luke 2:13-14
Zechariah 9:9-10
Isaiah 35:5-6
Isaiah 40:11
Matthew 11:28-29
Matthew 11:30
John 1:29
Isaiah 53:3-6
Psalm 22:7-8
Psalm 69:20,
Lamentations 1:12
Isaiah 53:8
Psalm 16:10
Acts 2:27
Psalm 24:7-10
Romans 10:15
Romans 10:18
Psalm 2:1-3
Psalm 2:4
Psalm 2:9
Revelation 19:6
Revelation 11:15
Revelation 19:16
Job 19:25-26
I Corinthians 15:20
I Corinthians 15:21-22
1 Cor. 15:51-57
Romans 8:31-34
Revelation 5:9, 12-14
The Triple Witness to the Certainty of Bible Accuracy: Prophetic Prediction, Witnessed Historical Fulfilment, Holy Spirit Inspiration of the Biblical Record
For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We saw his majestic splendour with our own eyes 17 when he received honour and glory from God the Father. The voice from the majestic glory of God said to him, "This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy." 18 We ourselves heard that voice from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.
19 Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet's own understanding, 21 or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God. 2 Peter 1:16-21
· They were confident of it in the 1st century.
· Handel was confident of it in the 18th century.
· We are confident of it today in the 21st century.
Jesus said: Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear. Matthew 24:35
Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about his Son. 10 All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don't believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don't believe what God has testified about his Son. 11 And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God's Son does not have life. 13 I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. 1 John 5:9-13
God spoke from heaven in a voice that could be heard by bystanders: "This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him." Thus God witnessed to Jesus as the Son of God. Everything Jesus taught is also the witness of God because Jesus taught only what His Father God commanded. John 12:44-50. Jesus taught the way of God in truth. He was not a liar. Where is the evidence of a different Jesus? It doesn't exist. The evidence of the real Jesus is the evidence of the New Testament. If you have a view of Jesus that differs from that presented in the New Testament, please show us your evidence, because I have shown you mine! Read Paul's moving words:
But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough. 5Indeed, I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles. 6Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; indeed, in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.
7Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached God's gospel to you free of charge? 8I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you. 9And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way. 10As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia. 11And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
12And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. 13For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. 2 Corinthians 11:3-15
In the next chapter, Paul will write: The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. 2 Corinthians 12:12
Those who spoke the truth about Jesus had signs and wonders supporting their words.
Jesus replied … And you know that the Scriptures cannot be altered. John 10:34-35.
So many witnesses, of all kinds of beliefs, testify to the same truth: Prophets, priest, tax-collector, shepherd, fisherman, physician, tent-maker, etc. They come from different nations and write their testimonies separated by centuries. 66 separate books written by 40 different authors separated by over a thousand years are all telling the same story about God's plan to save forever. Collusion is impossible. Only the hand of God could bring this about.
Praise God for His irrefutable and indestructible witness that assures anybody, anywhere in the world, and in any age, that there is a God in heaven, who sent His Son Jesus to earth to win eternal life for anyone willing to examine the evidence and believe and obey the Son of God!
Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, "I am thirsty." 29 A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. 30 When Jesus had tasted it, he said, "It is finished!" Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
31 It was the day of preparation, and the Jewish leaders didn't want the bodies hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath, because it was Passover week). So they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. 33 But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn't break his legs. 34 One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out. 35 (This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account. He speaks the truth so that you also may continue to believe.) 36 These things happened in fulfillment of the Scriptures that say, "Not one of his bones will be broken," 37 and "They will look on the one they pierced." John 19:28-37
The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name. John 20:30-31
David Hunter
