What difference does it make if the Bible is historically accurate or not? After all a lot of people regard the Bible as good literature, like the works of Shakespeare or Aristotle.

But the historically accurate portrait of Christ in the New Testament has personal implications for everyone.

The claims that Scripture makes for itself (that it is the Word of God to us) and that Jesus makes for Himself (that He is God's Son, sent to redeem men and women and reconcile us to God) are either the biggest lies and the cruelest hoax foisted on the human race-or they are the most remarkable and noteworthy claims in history.

The birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus was a turning point in the history of mankind. Measured by His influence, Jesus is central to the human story.

THE POWER OF CHRIST

The Christ of the New Testament can change lives. No matter what the critics say, the Christ of the New Testament changes lives. Millions from all backgrounds, nationalities, races, and professions, more than twenty centuries, are witnesses to the sin-breaking power of God's forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

E. Y. Mullins writes:

A redeemed drunkard, with vivid memory of past hopeless struggles and new sense of power through Christ, was replying to the charge that his religion was a delusion. He said: "Thank God for the delusion; it has put clothes on my children and shoes on their feet and bread in their mouths. It has made a man of me and it has put joy and peace in my home, which had been hell. If this is a delusion, may God send it to the slaves of drink everywhere, for their slavery is an awful reality." 1

I, too, am a walking testimony that the Scriptures are true, that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead and rives today.

When I was a student I set out to refute intellectually the Bible as a reliable document, the Resurrection as a factual historical event and Christianity as a relevant alternative. After gathering the evidence, I was compelled to conclude that my arguments wouldn't stand up-that Jesus Christ is exactly who He claimed to be, the Son of God.

My second year at the university I became a Christian. You've probably heard religious people talk about their "bolt of lightning." Well, nothing so dramatic happened to me, but in time there was some very observable changes.

Mental Peace. I had been a person who always had to be occupied. I had to be over at my girl's place or somewhere in a rap session. I'd walk across campus, and my mind would be a whirlwind of conflicts. I'd sit down and try to study or think and I couldn't

But in the few months after I made the decision to trust Christ, a kind of mental peace began to develop. Don't misunderstand, I'm not talking about the absence of conflict. What I found in this relationship with Jesus wasn't so much the absence of conflict as it was the ability to cope with it. I wouldn't trade this for anything in the world.

Control of Temper. Another area that started to change was my bad temper. I used to "blow my stack' if somebody just looked at me cross-eyed. I still have the scars from almost killing a man my first year in the university. My temper was such an integral part of me, I didn't consciously seek to change it.

Then one day after my decision to put my faith in Christ I arrived at a crisis, only to find that my temper was gone!

Freedom from Resentment. I had a lot of hatred in my life. It wasn't something outwardly manifested, but there was a kind of inward grinding. I was ticked off with people, things, issues.

The one person I hated more than anyone else in the world was my father. I despised him. He was the town alcoholic. And if you're from a small town and one of your parents is an alcoholic, you know what I'm talking about.

Everybody knew. My friends would come to high school and make jokes about my father. They didn't think it bothered me. I was laughing on the outside, but let me tell you I was crying on the inside. I'd go out in the barn and find my mother lying in the manure behind the cows. Shed been knocked down by my father and couldn't get up.

About five months after I made my decision for Christ love for my father-a love from God through Jesus Christ-inundated my life. It took that resentment and turned it upside down. It was so strong, I was able to look my father squarely in the eye and say, "Dad, I love you." I really meant it.

When I transferred to a private university, I was in a serious car accident. With my neck in traction, I was taken home. I'II never forget my father coming into my room, standing by my bed, and asking, "Son, how can you love a father like me?"

I said, "Dad, six months ago I despised you." Then I shared with him my conclusions about Jesus Christ and how He had changed me. Forty-five minutes later one of the

greatest thrills of my fife occurred. Somebody in my own family, someone who knew me so well I couldn't pull the wool over his eyes, my own father, said to me, "Son, if God can do in my life what I've seen Him do in yours, then I want to give Him the opportunity."

Usually changes take place over several days, weeks, or even years. But my father was changed right before my eyes. It was as though somebody reached in and turned on a light bulb. I've never seen such a rapid change before or since. My father touched alcohol only once after that He got it as far as his lips, and that was it. He didn't need it any more.

I've come to one conclusion: A relation ship with Jesus Christ changes people. You can ignore Him; you can mock or ridicule Christianity. It's your decision. And yet, when all else is said and done, we must face the fact that Peter pointed out "Jesus [is] the Messiah.... There is salvation in no one else! Under all heaven there is no other name for men to call upon to save them" (Acts 4:11-12).

If you ask Him to take control of your life, start watching your attitudes and actions-because the Christ of the New Testament is in the business of forgiving sin,
removing guilt, changing lives, and building new relationships.

Most important of all, we can experience the power of the risen Christ in our life today.

· First, we can know the freedom of having our sins forgiven.

· Second, we can be assured of eternal life and our own resurrection from the grave.

        · Third, we can be released from a meaningless and empty life and be transformed into a new creature in Jesus Christ.

WHERE DO YOU STAND?

How do you evaluate the historical evidence related in this book.? What is your decision about the fact of Christ's empty tomb? What do you think of Christ?

When I was confronted with the overwhelming evidence for Christ's resurrection, I had to ask the logical question: "What difference does all this evidence make to me? What difference does it make whether or not I believe Christ rose again and died on the cross for my sins?"

The answer was put best by something Jesus said to a man who doubted - Thomas. He told him, "I am the Way--yes, and the Truth, and the life. No one can get to the Father except by means of me" (John 14:6).

On the basis of all the evidence for Christ's resurrection, and considering the fact that Jesus offers forgiveness of sin and an eternal relationship with God, who would be so foolhardy as to reject Him? Christ is alive! He is living today.

You can trust God right now by faith through prayer. Prayer is talking with God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. If you have never trusted Christ you can do so right now.

The following Four Spiritual Laws or principles have helped many to understand how to put one's trust in Christ as Savior and Lord.

HAVE YOU HEARD OF THE FOUR SPIRUTAL LAWS? 4

Just as there are physical laws that govern the physical universe, so there are spiritual laws that govern your relationship with God.

LAW ONE

GOD LOVES YOU AND OFFERS A WONDERFUL PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE.

God's Love. "For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not Perish, but have eternal life"
(John 3:16).

God's Plan. Christ said, "I came that they might have life and might have it abundantly" (that it might be full and meaningful) (John 10:10).

Why is it that most people are not experiencing the abundant life? Because ...

LAW TWO

MAN IS SINFUL AND SEPARATED FROM GOD, THUS, HE CANNOT KNOW AND EXPERIENCE GOD'S LOVE AND PLAN FOR HIS LIFE.

Man Is Sinful. "For all have sinned and fail short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

Man was created to have fellowship with God; but, because of his own stubborn self-will he chose to go his own independent way, and fellowship with God was broken. This self-will characterized by an attitude of active rebellion or passive indifference, is an evidence of what the Bible calls sin.

Man Is Separated. "For the wages of sin is death" (spiritual separation from God)

(Romans 6:23).

This diagram illustrates that God is holy and man is sinful. A great gulf separates the two. The arrows illustrate that man is continually trying to reach God and the abundant life through his own efforts, such as a good life, philosophy, or religion.

The Third Law explains the only way to bridge this gulf...

LAW THREE

JESUS CHRIST IS GOD'S ONLY PROVISION FOR MAN'S SIN. THROUGH HIM YOU CAN KNOW AND EXPERIENCE GOD'S LOVE AND PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE.

He Died in Your Place. "But God demonstrates His own Love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

He Rose from the Dead. "Christ died for our sins ... He was buried ... He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures . . . He appeared to [Peter], then to the twelve. After that he appeared to more than five hundred . . ." (1 Corinthians 15:3-6).

He Is the Only Way to God. "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me... (John 14:6).

This diagram illustrates that God has bridged the gulf which separates us from Him by sending

His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross in our place to pay the penalty for our sins.

It is not enough to know these three laws nor even to give intellectual assent to them ...

LAW FOUR

WE MUST INDIVIDUALLY RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST AS SAVIOR AND LORD; THEN WE CAN KNOW AND EXPERIENCE GOD'S LOVE AND PLAN FOR OUR LIVES.

We Must Receive Christ. "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name" (John 1:12).

We Receive Christ through Faith. "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).

When we receive Christ we experience a new birth. (Read John 3:1-8.)

We Receive Christ by Personal Invitation. (Christ is speaking) "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him" (Revelation 3:20).

Receiving Christ involves turning to God from self (repentance) and trusting Christ to come into our lives to forgive our sins and to make us the kind of people He wants us to be.

Just to agree intellectually that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for our sins is not enough. Nor is it enough to have an emotional experience. We receive Jesus

THESE TWO CIRCLES REPRESENT TWO KINDS OF LIVES:

SELF-DIRECTED LIFE S - Self is on the throne † - Chris is outside the life • - Interests are directed by Self, often resulting in discord and frustration

CHRIST-DIRECTED LIFE † - Christ is in the life and on the throne S - Sell is yielding to Christ • - Interests are directed by Christ, resulting in harmony with God's plan

Christ by faith, as an act of the will. Which circle best represents your life? Which circle would you like to have represent your life? The following explains how you can receive Christ:

You Can Receive Christ Right Now by Faith through Prayer. (Prayer is talking with God.)

God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. The following is a suggested prayer.

"Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be."

 

Does this prayer express the desire of your heart?

If it does, pray this prayer right now, and Christ will come into your life, as He promised.

How to Know That Christ Is in Your Life. Did you receive Christ into your life? According to His promise in Revelation 3:20, where is Christ right now in relation to you? Christ said that He would come into your life. Would He mislead you? On what authority do you know that God has answered your prayer? (The trustworthiness of God Himself and His Word.)

The Bible Promises Eternal Life to All who Receive Christ. "And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life" (1 John 5.11-13).

Thank God that Christ is in your life and that He will never leave you. (See Hebrews 13:5.) You can know on the basis of His promise that Christ lives in you and that you have eternal life, from the very moment you invite Him in. He will not deceive you.

Meet with Other Christians. The Christian life was not meant to be lived alone. God's Word admonishes us not to forsake "the assembling of ourselves together..." (Hebrews 10:25). Several logs bum brightly together; but put one aside on the cold hearth and the fire goes out. So it is with your relationship to other Christians. If you do not belong to a church, do not wait to be invited. Take the initiative; call the pastor of a nearby church where Christ is honored and His Word is preached. Start this week, and make plans to attend regularly.

Special Materials Are Available for Christian Growth. If you have established a relationship with God through Christ as you were reading the above, please write me and tell me about it. I would be delighted to send you some materials that will help you in your ongoing walk with God.

Josh McDowell
Box 1000
Dallas, TX 75221