CHRISTIAN EVIDENCES (Part 9)

By: Cougan Collins

lgchurchofchrist@cableone.net

 

Another proof of Jesus’ resurrection comes from Saul’s conversion. We know Jesus was dead long before Saul converted to Christianity. Therefore, if we can show that Jesus appeared to Saul on the road to Damascus, we can prove Jesus was raised from the dead. Consider the following about Saul:

 

  • He was a fanatic, and he persecuted the church beyond measure and advanced in the Jewish religion beyond those of his own age (Gal. 1:13-14).
  • He consented to Stephen’s death (Acts 7:58 – 8:1).
  • He drug both men and women to prison (Acts 8:1-3).
  • He even went outside of Jerusalem to take down Christianity (Acts 9:1-2).
  • He said he was a Hebrew of the Hebrews and a Pharisee (Phi. 3:5).
  • He recounts his rage against Christianity to King Agrippa (Acts 26:9-11).

 

Saul was at the top of his game. He was a local hero among his people and had power, wealth, and fame. The question becomes, who could have possibly converted Saul to Christianity? Would it have been some of his fellow men? No, they admired him. Could it of been another Christian? No. He would not listen to them because he wanted them all dead or locked up. Maybe there was an ulterior motive for Saul to convert to Christianity? What could it have been? It certainly was not wealth because as a Christian he had to work with his own hands and went hungry at times (Acts 20:33-34; 1 Cor. 4:11-12). It certainly was not for a better reputation or more power because he had all of those things as a prominent Pharisee. There is only one logical answer for Saul’s conversion. Only Jesus could have changed a man like this just as the Bible records for us in Acts 9, 22, 26. Therefore, Saul’s conversion offers more proof that Jesus was indeed raised from the dead.

 

For my final point in this series of articles, I want share some things Jesus claimed about Himself that proved to be true:

 

  • He claimed no one could take His life and He had the power to lay it down (Jn. 10:17-18).
  • He knew He would be scourged and die by crucifixion (Mt. 20:18-19).

 

These are just a few claims Jesus made, but we can see that He was right as He survived many attempts on His life. For example: Herod tried to kill him as a baby (Mt. 2:13-21);  His own people tried to push Him off a cliff at Nazareth (Lk. 4:16-30); Officers were sent to arrest Him but after they heard Him, they did not (Jn. 7:32, 45-46); Several tried to stone him (Jn . 8:59 10:31, 39); He was threatened to be killed throughout His ministry (Jn. 5:18, 7:1). However, when it was time for Him to lay His life down, He allowed it happen though He could have called twelve legions of angels to prevent His death (Mt. 26:53).

 

He was also right about how He would die as the Gospels bare witness that He was scourged and crucified (Mt. 27; Mk. 15; Lk. 23; Jn. 19).

 

The Christian evidences I have presented in these nine articles offer amply proof that the Word of God is reliable, God is real, and that Jesus came to this earth and died for our sins. It also proves that Jesus was raised from the dead. God’s Word has stood the test of time and will continue to prove itself true. It should encourage you and strengthen your faith knowing that these Christian evidences further confirm everything God’s Word says. Therefore, we should have no doubts about God or His promises. Visit our website at www.lgchurchofchrist.com.