Date written: August 5th, 2007
Scripture ref: John 20:30-31<\/p>\n
SUBJECT: Apologetics<\/p>\n
TITLE: Why Believe?<\/p>\n
PROPOSITION: Why ought we to believe? 1) I want to believe. 2) There is good reason to believe. 3) Because of the consequences of not believing. 4) Because of the rewards of believing.<\/p>\n
Objectives: That each would be motivated to believe and to live their life based upon that motivation.<\/p>\n
INTRODUCTION:<\/p>\n
1. Read: John 20:30-31<\/p>\n
2. About the Text:<\/p>\n
1) Many scholars believe that John wrote in the 90s A.D.<\/p>\n
2) This would have been long after most of the apostles and many of the eyewitnesses had died.<\/p>\n
3) John’s gospel was written to persuade the undecided to believe that Jesus was the Son of God.<\/p>\n
4) John relies mainly upon his testimony of the miracles that he witnesses Jesus do as well as his testimony of the resurrection.<\/p>\n
5) He concludes in these verses that he has written these things so that those who read it may believe.<\/p>\n
6) Perhaps one thing, however, that we should consider before we think about John’s testimony is the question, “Why Believe”?<\/p>\n
7) Let’s consider some answers to this question in our study tonight.<\/p>\n
3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.<\/p>\n
DISCUSSION: Why believe?<\/p>\n
I. Because I want to believe.<\/p>\n
1. To not believe implies certain things that I would have to accept.<\/p>\n
1) That there is no God.<\/p>\n
2) That there is no right or wrong.<\/p>\n
3) That friends and family are unimportant.<\/p>\n
4) That life is essentially without meaning.<\/p>\n
5) That life really isn’t worth living.<\/p>\n
6) That death is the end.<\/p>\n
2. I want to believe because.<\/p>\n
1) I am an optimist.<\/p>\n
2) I want to believe God exists.<\/p>\n
3) I want there to be right and wrong.<\/p>\n
4) My friends and family are important.<\/p>\n
5) Life is worth living.<\/p>\n
6) Life has meaning.<\/p>\n
7) I don’t want to believe that death is the end.<\/p>\n
3. These are reasons not for believing, but for wanting to believe.<\/p>\n
4. Why is wanting to believe important?<\/p>\n
5. Because our attitude toward believing makes a difference in an honest evaluation of the evidence.<\/p>\n
II. Because there are good reasons to believe.<\/p>\n
1. In the existence of God.<\/p>\n
1) There must be a great cause to describe the great effect of the Universe.<\/p>\n
a. Something didn’t come from nothing.<\/p>\n
b. Something came from something.<\/p>\n
2) An intelligent design requires an intelligent Designer.<\/p>\n
3) There must be an Ultimate Arbiter of what is right and wrong.<\/p>\n
2. In the Bible as the word of God.<\/p>\n
1) All other world religions imply self contradictions.<\/p>\n
2) Because of the fulfilled prophecy in scripture.<\/p>\n
3) Because of the accuracy of the scientific knowledge found in scripture.<\/p>\n
a. The medical knowledge found in Genesis through Deuteronomy.<\/p>\n
b. Hydrological knowledge.<\/p>\n
c. Historical knowledge.<\/p>\n
4) Because of the lofty moral standard set forth in the scriptures.<\/p>\n
a. The golden rule.<\/p>\n
b. Sexual standards.<\/p>\n
c. Obey Government<\/p>\n
d. Love family and one another.<\/p>\n
3. In Jesus as the Son of God.<\/p>\n
1) Because the testimony of the witnesses is credible.<\/p>\n
a. John 19:35 “And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.”<\/p>\n
b. 2 Peter 1:16 “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.”<\/p>\n
2) Because of the willingness of the witnesses to suffer and die for what they believed.<\/p>\n
a. Stephen was put to death.<\/p>\n
b. James was put to death.<\/p>\n
c. Paul suffered many things.<\/p>\n
d. Tradition says that all of the apostles except John were martyred.<\/p>\n
3) Because the greatest enemy of Christianity was converted to Christianity (Saul\/Paul).<\/p>\n
a. Saul was the greatest enemy of the church.<\/p>\n
b. He wreaked havoc on the church (Acts 8:3).<\/p>\n
c. Yet he became a Christian after Jesus appeared to him. Why?<\/p>\n
III. The potential consequences for not believing are harsh.<\/p>\n
1. To fail to believe the great moral standards of the Bible brings harsh consequences upon my life.<\/p>\n
1) Sexual disease.<\/p>\n
2) Divorce<\/p>\n
3) Child abuse.<\/p>\n
4) Imprisonment.<\/p>\n
5) Always involved in physical conflict.<\/p>\n
6) Early death.<\/p>\n
2. To fail to believe the great spiritual truths of the Bible.<\/p>\n
1) No reason to live life.<\/p>\n
2) Life has no meaning.<\/p>\n
3) Ultimately, if wrong, one spends an eternity in hell.<\/p>\n
a. 2 Peter 2:9 “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:”<\/p>\n
b. Matthew 25:41 “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:”<\/p>\n
IV. The rewards for believing are great.<\/p>\n
1. In regard to morality.<\/p>\n
1) One lives the best possible life that one can live on earth.<\/p>\n
2) Freedom from disease.<\/p>\n
3) Have great relationships with family and friends.<\/p>\n
4) In good standing with the government.<\/p>\n
5) Live a long peaceful life.<\/p>\n
2. In regard to spirituality.<\/p>\n
1) There is a reason to live life. Ecclesiastes 12:13.<\/p>\n
2) Life has meaning. 1 Corinthians 6:20 “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”<\/p>\n
3) God will reward the faithful with heaven.<\/p>\n
a. 2 Timothy 4:8 “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”<\/p>\n
b. James 1:12 “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”<\/p>\n
CONCLUSION:<\/p>\n
1. Why believe?<\/p>\n
1) Because I want to believe.<\/p>\n
2) Because there are good reasons for believing.<\/p>\n
3) Because the consequences of not believing are harsh.<\/p>\n
4) Because the rewards for believing are great.<\/p>\n
2. Invitation<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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