"WHY I BELIEVE"

In Jesus Christ

INTRODUCTION

1. The greatest story ever told is that of Jesus Christ...

a. The Son of God becoming flesh, dwelling among men

b. His life, His miracles, His teachings, His death, His resurrection

and ascension to heaven

c. How He shed His blood to provide atonement for the sins of the

world!

2. It is a story that calls for faith...

a. For those willing to believe, eternal life is possible 

 John 3:16

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

b. For those choosing not to believe, there is condemnation 

 John 3:18

“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

[Why do I believe in Jesus Christ?  For two reasons mainly, both of

which were stressed in the preaching of the apostles of Christ.  The

first being...]

I. FULFILLED PROPHECY

A. EXPLANATION...

1. The apostles appealed to Messianic prophecies to produce faith

in Jesus

a. Peter in his second sermon at Jerusalem 

Acts 3:18

“But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.”

2. Some examples of Messianic prophecies

a. The conflict between the serpent and the seed of woman 

 Genesis 3:15

“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

b. The blessing upon all nations through the seed of Abraham

- Genesis 12:3

“And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

c. Who would be born of a virgin 

Isaiah 7:14

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

d. The forerunner who would prepare the way of the Lord 

Isaiah 40:3

“The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

e. The suffering Servant who would bear our iniquities 

Isaiah 53:4-12

“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.8He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.9And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.10Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.11He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.12Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

f. His resurrection from the dead 

Psalms 16:8-11

“I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.9Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.10For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.11Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

g. His ascension into heaven 

Daniel 7:13-14

“I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.14And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”

II. APOSTOLIC TESTIMONY

A. EXPLANATION...

1. The apostles claimed to be eyewitnesses

a. As professed by Peter 

 2Peter 1:16-18

“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. 17For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.”

b. As professed by John 

1John 1:1-3

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.”

2. The apostles by their testimony force us to make a decision

a. Were they truly eyewitnesses, or false witnesses? 

 1Corinthians 15:14-15

“And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 15Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.”

3) The resurrection appearances of Jesus were often

witnessed by many at the same time (over 500 on one

occasion) 

 1Corinthians 15:4-8

“And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.”

B. SIGNIFICANCE...

1. If the apostolic testimony is false

a. The New Testament is a carefully orchestrated lie!

b. The apostles suffered extreme hardship for what they knew

was a lie! 

 1Corinthians 4:9-13

“For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. 10We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. 11Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; 12And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: 13Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.”

2. But if the apostolic testimony is true

a. Then Jesus is everything they taught He claimed to be!

1) He is the Son of God 

 Romans 1:4

“And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:”

2) He truly has all authority in heaven and earth 

 Matthew 28:18

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”

 b. Then everything they testified concerning what He taught is

true!

1) He was from the Father above, and spoke the words of the

Father 

 John 8:28-29

“Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. 29And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.”

2) No one can come to the Father but through Him 

 John 14:6

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

3) His blood was shed for the remission of sins 

 Matthew 26:28

“For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

4) He came to offer abundant life 

 John 10:10

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

5) He went to prepare a place for us 

 John 14:2

“In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”

6) He shall come again 

 John 14:3

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

7) There will be a resurrection of the dead and ensuing

judgment 

 John 5:28-29

“Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”

**If you would like to give your heart to Jesus today, repeat these words below:

'Dear Heavenly Father,i come to in the name of Jesus; Forgive me a sinner and wash me in your precious blood. Make this heart of stone to be made flesh, so that your word may be sown in it. Any addictions that i may have, remove them now in Jesus name! I've accepted Jesus Christ as my savior and believe that He died and rose from the dead! And from this day forward, i commit my life to you and seek for guidance and understanding in your word, as i walk in your path of righteousness, In Jesus name i pray, AMEN!!!'

If you have recited these words and meant them in your heart, you are saved and if the Lord would come today, you will be ready to go to Heaven!! I will keep you all in prayer, to continue to walk in the ways of Jesus Christ our Lord. READ, PRAY, SEEK and TRUST in Him and you will overcome this wicked world! **

I have also provided a link to the Full Gospel Holiness Church below, where you will find sermons from the word of God (no comprising to sin) but the Full truth to the Word of God! You can also view our contact information to email us or call us for prayer. May God bless you!

http://www.fghconline.com/