Faith is not Blind*
The Christian faith is being mocked and scorned in these times as being nothing more than "blind faith." However, our faith is not blind but is based upon truth and light. There is evidence - eye witness, historical, mathematical, and anthropological, including in my opinion the Shroud of Turin which accurately depicts the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ - that confirms the truth of the Christian faith. Jesus said that we shall know the truth.
The apostle Peter wrote that we should keep in our remembrance the words of the prophets and the apostles, who prophesied and testified of the truth of the Lord and Savior, Jesus. Peter also wrote of scoffers in the last days, who desire to continue walking in their own lusts, who are willingly ignorant of the Lord's return and the judgment that will accompany Him. These scoffers say, "Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." (2 Pet. 3:1-5). These scoffers refuse to remember that the earth was once overflowed with the water of judgment and perished. There is physical geological and biological evidence of the universal flood, and yet the scoffers deny it. Peter warned: "But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men." Peter also noted that this prophesied event and the return of the Lord are part of the specific timetable given by the Word of the Lord to His prophet (see 2 Pet. 3:8, Ps. 90:4). It is a timetable that points to the times in which we are now living. (v. 6-8).
Peter describes a fiery judgment so intense that the heavens and the earthly elements shall be put on fire and melt with the fervent heat on the day of the coming of the Lord. (v. 10-12). This description can only be compared to a nuclear holocaust in our understanding. However, Peter assures us this: "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (v. 9). Instead of availing themselves of the longsuffering patience of the Lord by repenting, many twist it into an unbelief in any coming judgment. Peter spoke of the writings of the apostle Paul..."which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest (twist), as they do other scriptures, unto their own destruction. (note also: Jesus warned that even the elect may be deceived.) Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." (v. 9, 16-18).
How should the believer treat the knowledge of this coming event? Peter wrote: "...we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness...seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless." (v. 11-14). This is also the condition to which we are to come to the marriage supper of the Lamb, Jesus.
Peter wrote of scoffers above. Paul, correcting a falsehood being taught that Christ had already returned, wrote of a falling away from faith and truth that will occur first before the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Also, the man of sin, the son of perdition would be revealed: "Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God....And then that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believe not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (2 Thess. 2:1-12). We see that truth will be rejected by many, which will lead to destruction.
As Peter also wrote above, Paul tells his readers: "Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or by our epistle." (v. 15). We are to stand fast in the truth of our faith in Jesus Christ in the age of deception that will come and now is before the day of the Lord.
The evidence of the truth of our faith in Jesus Christ is shown mathematically by the study done by author, Peter Stone. He conservatively calculated the mathematical probabilities regarding one Man, in this case Jesus, fulfilling the precise details of the Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah or Christ. Those who consider this mathematical evidence, and not "blind faith", have come to the truth of Christ. Here are some of Stone's mathematical findings:
Born in Bethlehem prophesied in Micah 5:2 fulfilled: Mt. 2:1 and Lk. 2:4-7
Probability = 1 in 280,000
Betrayed for 30 pc. silver prophesied in Zech. 11:12 fulfilled: Mt. 26:14-16
Probability = 1 in 1,000
Hands and feet pierced prophesied Ps. 22:16, Zech. 12:10 fulfilled: Jn. 19:18, 20:25-27
Probability = 1 in 1,000
Buried in rich man's tomb prophesied Isa. 53:9 fulfilled: Mt. 27:57-60
Probability = 1 in 1,000
Total Old Testament prophecies studied by Stoner and fulfilled by Christ's first appearing give this result:
Probability = 1 x 10 to the 17th power or 100 quadrillion
This is some of the mathematical evidence to support faith in Jesus Christ.
The historical evidence of Jesus' crucifixion by Pontius Pilate was recorded by Flavius Josephus in "Antiquities of the Jews," and the Roman historian, Tacitus, in "Annals."
Other Old Testament prophets wrote of the destruction by fire, flames of fire, brimstone and earthquakes that will accompany the Day of the Lord: His coming, and His judgment, as Peter wrote above: Isa. 66:15-16, Ezek. 38:18-22, and Zech. 14:3-5. No man can know the day nor the hour of Christ's return, but we can know the signs as spoken by Jesus, Himself (see Mt. 24 and Lk. 21), which we are seeing in our time.
Jude wrote that we are to contend for the faith, although there are ungodly men who deny "the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." (v. 3-4). Jude refers to the prophetic writings of Enoch (Apocrypha) regarding those murmurers, complainers, mockers in the last days and the ungodly who would face the judgment of God. (v. 14-16). Even in the face of these perilous times, Jude wrote to the believers: "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life....Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen." (v. 20-25).
*Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson, Jr.'s 1011/26 message to the church. If you would like to hear the complete message, you can find it on the Facebook page of Kenneth E. Stevenson Jr. Dr. Stevenson's video messages are also found on You Tube at the Kenneth Stevenson channel. To contact or support this ministry, or to request prayer, you can write to PO Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705. To find out more about the Shroud of Turin, which is evidence of Christ's suffering, death, and resurrection, and to receive a free e-book now available in several languages, go to http://www.theshroudofturin.org/freebook. Also the book NAZAH: White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling, written by Dr. Stevenson, is available on Amazon.
Comments
Post a Comment