Does Jesus trust you?

November 17, 2023

Maria 2 Timothy 2, Evangelism, John 2 , , , 2 Comments

Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him. But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew all about people. John 2:23-24 NLT

We encounter people every day, when we are out and about, who say they believe in God.  But if you probe a bit, you quickly find out that they believe in ‘a God’, that there is something or someone supernatural called God.  But that is as far as they go.

As Mike often points out, in any worthwhile discussion we must start by defining our terms. We ask, therefore: ‘What do you mean by God?  Who is God to you?’ and ‘What do you mean by ‘believe in’? What does that look like in your life?’

I have those kinds of conversations regularly.  But they all tend to be one-directional, about whether A PERSON believes God, trusts God. The issue regularly centers on what kind of relationship someone has with God….. from his point of view.

But I don’t think I’ve pondered more than a split second the question of whether Jesus trusts me?  Whether he knows that I am worthy of his confidence, someone he can count on. Being honest and generous with myself, I probably live 50 % of my day committed to God, counting on him to come through and taking him at his word.  Those hours (not all consecutive) of my day, I DO actually believe that his promises are valid, true and legit and that I can apply them for the day’s very specific and actual needs.

So, with a ‘mercy’ grade of 50% (which is way below a failing F), I confront the question of whether the Son actually evaluates me as trustworthy.

If I were to make a case on my behalf, I would point out, in my defense, Jesus’ disciples: ‘Well, look at them! What about them? They deserted you, every single one. Furthermore, Peter even denied knowing you. And Thomas refused to believe the testimony of his 10 closest male friends when they said they had seen the risen Jesus’.

I bet Jesus wouldn’t even ‘go there’. He’d ignore my point about his guys.  Because, the good news is that he knows about all people. He knows that I can’t be counted on.  Were he a normal human being, he’d be justified in not trusting me.  But he has YOU and me, grace upon grace.  We don’t have to count on ourselves being trustworthy. Because we won’t be, consistently.

If we are not faithful, he will still be faithful. Christ cannot deny who he is.” 2 Timothy 2:13 CEV

So, I’m off the hook.  Nevertheless, I WANT to please Jesus. I WANT to prove that I am someone he can trust.  For those who think grace might be too risky and totally lacking rational thought for God to offer, since we ‘might’ just go on sinning all the more, I will counter with the reality of my life and that of many other authentic, but very wobbly believers I know.  The real Christian is a child, a man, a woman who gasps at the offer of undeserved favor. Then gradually as he comes better to know Christ, he starts to long to please the gift-giver out of ever increasing holy and wondrous awe.

Why do you trust Christianity? (aka: Why are you a Christian?)

April 19, 2014

Maria Isaiah, Resurrection, Witnessing , , , , , , 2 Comments

The only reason to be a Christian or to trust Christianity as a worldview is…

..if it’s TRUE!

Truth is a cross

The God of the universe is a ‘reasonable’ God.  That means He created EVERYTHING in a manner that can be attested to rationally (i.e. backed up with reasons or evidence), using His life-generating ‘logical’ Word.

In fact, God says in Isaiah 1:18 – “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. 

So on this Easter Sunday, I want to pass on what I am learning to articulate, 4 simple facts that even agnostic New Testament scholars and quite a few atheists agree on.  Where disputes and disagreements lie are in the interpretations of the facts.

Being equipped with ‘just the facts, ma’am’, can give you confidence when you find yourself with someone who doesn’t know the truth about Jesus.

Just the Facts, Ma'am

Here is what is past dispute and agreed upon by most reputable scholars, no matter their faith positions:

 

 

 

 

  • Jesus of Nazareth was put to death by crucifixion and laid in a tomb 
  • The tomb was discovered empty 2 days later
  • His disciples believed they had seen the risen, physical Jesus after his death
  • These disciples dramatically changed from cowering, demoralized followers to energized, bold and confident men and women who started a world-wide Christian movement that continues to endure and to grow both stronger and more numerous 2000+ years later

The evidence that backs up these facts comes NOT just from the Gospel accounts and letters written by Jesus’ earliest followers, but also from a-sympathetic historians, (that is to say, from those who didn’t have a dog in the race!)

To give you further confidence when sharing these 4 simple and incontrovertible facts, you only need to know ONE thing more.  Claims are most solid when they can be falsified.

So what would quickly falsify Christianity?

Empty tomb

 

 

 

Produce the body!

That’s all it would take to disprove and shut down the claims of these followers.  And you had better believe it, that the Romans AND the Jewish leaders did all they could to find the dead Galilean.

So as you celebrate and think about the living Savior, be confident, that you can trust the claims of the Bible.  Jesus IS (present tense) the truth, the light and the life.

Jesus' tomb is empty, unlike others