For my grand babies!!
Rev.1:8
8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.
Rev.22:13
13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."
John 17:3
3 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
1 Peter 1:8
8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory
John 20:26-29
26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”
28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
In the sweet innocence of a young child, this question was asked out of real concern as to whether Jesus is real.
Would you know how to respond?
I will attempt to search for the truth of the matter as I turn to God's holy word.
First, let me say this.
No one has seen the physical body of Jesus except the ones who were alive in the years when Christ walked on earth.
Second, let me state what faith is.
It is hope in things yet unseen.
We receive that faith from God's holy written word, the Bible.
Who gives us faith to believe?
Our Creator, our Father, our God!
There is tangible evidence of God in creation so man will be without excuse.
Things that no man could have made, stars, sun, moon, air, planets etc.
We can't see air, but we know its there because we need it to breathe and live.
Such is the quest for truth of the knowledge that confirms Christ existence!
He gave His life so that we may have eternal life!
Not only is His existence confirmed by nature and scripture, but history as well.
Josephus, a first century Jewish scholar and historian writes of Jesus in the "Antiquities of the Jews".
Tacitus, a Roman governor writes in the "Annals" of the crucifixion of Christ.
Romans 10:14-17
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching
15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?"
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Acts 26:
18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'
Heb.11:1-3
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
2 For by it the people of old received their commendation.
3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
Eph.2:8
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
Luke 24:
46 and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,
47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
Mark 8:12
And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, "Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation."
I can not physically show you Christ. I can show you in His creation, things that were not made by man. His word has been proven faithful and true by what was prophesied before He came and was indeed fulfilled in scripture in the New Testament. We await His return with a glad heart but we want Him to delay His Coming for the harvest is not complete! My prayer for you is to receive God's truth through faith in Christ's death and resurrection! Being assured of the power in it that has been divinely given by God! It will never change!
I could go on and on because the evidence is clear! Some will see and receive by faith and be glad! Others, well let us pray for God's will but let's do our part in presenting the gospel accurately with love and concern for their eternal souls destination depends on it!
Ephesians 1:17-23
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,
18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might
20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,
23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
