Jesus of Nazareth Is a Real Man of History
• The N.T. Documents Establish the Historical Christ
• Jewish Testimony Establishes the Historical Christ
− The Jewish Babylonian Talmud
− Flavius Josephus, Jewish historian (A.D. 93-94)
• Roman Testimony Establishes the Historical Christ
− Tacitus, Roman historian (A.D. 56-117)
− Suetonius, Roman biographer (A.D. 120)
− Pliny the Younger, Roman governor of Bithynia (A.D. 110-112)
• Hostile Testimony Establishes the Historical Christ
− Celsus, a pagan philosopher (A.D. 178)
− Lucian of Samosata, Greek philosopher (A.D. 115-120)
Jesus Is More Than Just a Man
• Some view Jesus as just another man who lived
• It is vitally important that Jesus is the Son of God
• Eternal matters are contingent upon His deity:
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The existence of the church (Matt. 16:16-19)
The inspiration of the Scriptures (Luke 24:44 + John 16:13-15)
The reconciliation of believers to God (Rom. 5:10)
The revelation of God’s will to man (Heb. 1:1-2)
The priesthood of Christ in our lives (Heb. 4:14-16)
The cleansing efficacy of Christ’s blood (1 John 1:7)
The destruction of the works of the devil (1 John 3:8)
The saving of the world from sin (1 John 4:14)
The promise and possession of eternal life (Jn. 3:36; 1 Jn. 5:12)
Jesus Is the Son of God, Based Upon Facts
1. The Miracles of Jesus attest to His deity (Acts 2:22)
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Jesus’ miracles prove His deity (John 20:30-31; Mt. 11:2-5)
Jesus’ miracles could only be done by God (John 3:2; 10:25-38)
Jesus’ enemies even attested to His miracles (Jn. 11:47; 9:16)
Jesus showed power over disease, nature, demons & death
Jesus Is the Son of God, Based Upon Facts
2. The Fulfilled Prophecies attest to His deity (Acts 2:25-30)
− There are 332 Old Testament prophecies about the Son of God
• Born of Bethlehem in Judea (Micah 5:2)
• Born of a virgin (Isa. 7:14)
• Betrayed for 30 pieces of silver (Zech. 11:13)
• Pierced hands and feet (Psa. 22:16)
• Lots cast for His clothing (Psa. 22:18)
• No bones broken (Psa. 34:20)
• Buried with the rich (Isa. 53:9)
• Body would be raised (Psa. 16:10)
− Highly improbable that one man could fulfill all 332 prophecies
• Odds of being struck by lightning: 1 in 700,000
• Odds of winning Powerball with one ticket: 1 in 175,000,000
• Odds of one man fulfilling just 8 Messianic prophecies: 1 in 1017
1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000 (100 quadrillion)
− Jesus precisely fulfilled all 332 prophecies—He is the Son of God!
Jesus Is the Son of God, Based Upon Facts
1. The Miracles of Jesus attest to His deity (Acts 2:22)
2. The Fulfilled Prophecies attest to His deity (Acts 2:25-30)
3. The Resurrection attests to His deity (Acts 2:24, 30-36)
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Witnessed by the soldiers (Matt. 28:11-15)
Witnessed by the women who came early (Matt. 28:9-10)
Witnessed by two on road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35)
Witnessed by the 11 apostles (John 20:26-31)
Witnessed by more than 500 at once (1 Cor. 15:6)
Witnessed by Saul of Tarsus (1 Cor. 15:8)
Jesus’ resurrection is a proven historical fact
Do you believe it? Have you responded to it?
• When you believe Jesus is God’s Son (John 3:36), and
• When you repent & turn from your sins (Luke 13:3), and
• When you confess your faith in Jesus (Rom. 10:9), and
• When you are immersed into Christ (Acts 2:38), then
− God will forgive all of your sins (Acts 22:16)
− God will add you to His church (Acts 2:47)
− God will enroll you in heaven (Hebrews 12:23)
• Then, you must walk faithfully with Him (1 John 1:7)
Have you done this? Are you doing this?