The Proposition Presented

The Proposition Presented

1. the proposition:

a. Jesus, his common name

b. Christ, messiah, the O.T. "anointed"

c. THE SON OF GOD

1. eternal

2. deity

II. FACTS ADMITTED BY ALL.

a. Jesus lived, (all writers of History)

b. That he lived in Palestine (a Jew)

c. He lived at the beginning of the 1st century.

d. He was a religious teacher., the founder or author of the Christian religion.

III. ONLY TWO ALTERNATIVES.

a. the son of God, as He claimed,

b. an ordinary man.

1. a Jewish imposter,

2. a conscious and deliberate liar and fraud.

IV. EVIDENCES OF HIS CLAIMS

1. CLAIMS

a. to be sinless.

1. his challenge, Jn. 8:46

2. His disciples statements, Heb.4:15

1:15)

3. Judas admitted his innocence Mt. 27:4

4. Roman authority admitted also, Mt. 27:24

b. claimed to be equal to God, Jn. 5:17-l8ff.

c. claimed that He would rise from the dead

1. Lk. 9:22; Mt. 12:40; 16:21; etc.

d. claimed that all men everywhere should obey Him Mk. 16:15-16; (a Jew and THIS COMMISSION???)

2. THE VIRGIN BIRTH

a. Isa. ch. 7-9

1. 7:14

2. 8, called "Immanuel", mentioned twice

3. 9:6

4. THIS WAS CLAIMED FOR JESUS, Mt. 1:18-25

3. FULFILLED PROPHECIES

4. UNNATURAL SAYINGS (have read and study for self)

1. devoid of worldly ambition.

a. refused to be made King, Jn. 6:15

b. not cultivate "rulers", but poor and sinners Lk. 15:1-2, and rebuked prominent men - Mtt.23

2. never expressed doubt on subjects,

a. never referred to human authority or philosophy

b."spoke with authority," Mt. 7:29

3. free of prejudice and hate

a. Samaritan woman, Jn. 4

b. destruction of Jerusalem, Mt. 24

c. worldly kingdom rejected Jn. 18:36

d. What would He gain,

1. by denouncing all Jewish sects?

2. ignoring and condemning their traditions

3. accusing leaders of hypocrisy?

4. no malice for enemies, Lk. 23:34

5. free of egotism and selfishness

a. gave God all the credit, Jn. 5:30; 11:40-43; 12:48

6. unnatural claims:

a. preexistence (no Jew would so claim Jn8:58

b. words outlast even world, Mt. 24:35

c. accepted worship, Mt. 8:2; 9:18, 14:33; Jn. 9:35-38; Jn. 20:26-29

5. MIRACLES Jn. 5:36

a. possible

b. DID HE DO THEM?

1. he said he did, Jn. 5:36 etc.

2. his disciples said he did, Acts 2:22,Jn.20:30

3. his enemies said that he did, Mtt.12:22-24

4. his enemies said his disciples did Acts 4:10,11

5. Historians say that he did. Josephus described Him as "a doer of wonderful works"

6. It was more than 100 yrs. before ANYONE denied His miracles.

6. HIS RESURRECTION

a. he claimed he would.

b. witnessed (see chart, 1 Cor. 15)

c. facts agreed upon by all

1. Jesus lived and died

2. Jesus was buried

3. His body disappeared.

d. EXPLANATIONS:

1. SWOON THEORY.

a. not account for soldiers actions Jn.19:33

b. not account for testimony of a competent Roman officer, Mk. 15:44-45

c. not account how those who "worked on body" failed to perceive life.

d. NOT ACCOUNT FOR

1. suffering on cross

2. spear wound and loss of blood

3. two days without food, water, medical aid

4. unfolding wrappings,

5. roll away stone

6. fight off Roman Guards

7. walk length of Palestine, and appear healthy to disciples.

2. ENEMIES STOLE THE BODY.

a. had no motive, wanted exactly opposite cp. Mt. 27:62-66

b. why not produce after pentecost and destroy the apostles preaching?

3. disciples stole body.

a. not allow for Roman guard(at least 12) under penalty of death if would allow it.

b. not account for "unbelief of disciples" They dispersed after death, did not expect Him.

c. Why would they suffer for a known lie????

4. the hallucination theory.

a. Jesus corrected this, Lk. 24:36-37

b. Thomas wanted proof positive, Jn.20:24-30

c. variety of appearances, and number of those seeing Him at same preclude this idea.

d. Disciples NOT expecting him.

e. Besides, if this true, body would have been in grave, easy enough to prove true or false.

5. ACCEPT THAT HE AROSE.

CONCLUSION:IF THROW OUT THE IDEA OF JESUS AS TAUGHT:

1. A Jew, born in a captive Roman province, of a peasant woman, lived as a carpenter's son for 30 years, became a religious teacher for 3½, was deserted by followers when arrested, was tried and killed as a common criminal. He never wrote a book, never invented a machine, never went to college, YET CLAIMS TO BE EQUAL WITH GOD, THE JUDGE OF THE WORLD, SINLESS, AND WOULD RISE FROM THE DEAD.

2. Established a religion that has grown and spread through out the world.

3.Though a conscious liar, gave world highest moral standard it has ever known.

IS HE A FRAUD, A LIAR, OR THE SON OF GOD??????

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