The Case for Christianity Answer Book: Concise Responses to Real Questions about Faith (Answer Book Series)

by Lee Strobel

The scientifically supported evidence from the origin of the universe, the fine-tuning of the universe to support life, the inescapable existence of objective moral values that originate from beyond us, the historical evidence for the resurrection of Jesus, and our own experience with the living Savior—these combine to form a powerful case for the existence of God.

I asked Dr. Yamauchi what we could conclude about Jesus from ancient non-Christian sources. “We would know that first, Jesus was a Jewish teacher; second, many people believed that he performed healings and exorcisms; third, some people believed he was the Messiah; fourth, he was rejected by the Jewish leaders; fifth, he was crucified under Pontius Pilate in the reign of Tiberius; sixth, despite this shameful death, his followers, who believed that he was still alive, spread beyond Palestine so that there were multitudes of them in Rome by AD 64; and seventh, all kinds of people from the cities and countryside—men and women, slave and free—worshiped him as God.”

• If Jesus is the Son of God, his words are more than just good ideas from a wise teacher; they are divine insights on which I can confidently build my life. • If Jesus sets the standard for morality, I can now have an unwavering foundation for my choices and decisions, rather than basing them on the ever-shifting sands of expediency and self-centeredness. • If Jesus did rise from the dead, he’s still alive today and available for me to encounter on a personal basis. • If Jesus conquered death, he can open the door of eternal life for me too. • If Jesus has divine power, he has the supernatural ability to guide me and help me and transform me as I follow him. • If Jesus personally knows the pain of loss and suffering, he can comfort and encourage me in the midst of the turbulence that he himself warned is inevitable in a world corrupted by sin. • If Jesus loves me as he says, he has my best interests at heart. That means I have nothing to lose and everything to gain by committing myself to him and his purposes. • If Jesus is who he claims to be, then as my Creator he rightfully deserves my allegiance, obedience, and worship.

Good works do play a role in the Christian life, but here’s the critically important distinction: they’re not a means of gaining eternal life; rather, they are a result that flows out of it.