How Do I Know Jesus Is Really The Messiah?

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

According to the scripture from the first verse in the first chapter of the book of John, the Word and God are one and the same. But who is the Word? If you continue to read, scripture says the following; starting in verse 2: "the same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men." (Vs. 2-4) Now go to verse 14; "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John bare witness of Him, and cried, saying, This was He of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for He was before me." (vs. 14-15.) In this narrative, John tells us in no uncertain terms that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God and He came as a man of flesh and dwelt among men on earth. Now I realize that only those who believe that the Bible is the true Word of God will accept this as proof that Jesus really is the Messiah, the Promised One, the Savior. But what about those who doubt the validity of the Bible? What about the hard core skeptics? Where is the proof for them?

In the 30 some years that we have been in the ministry, we have heard this question more times than I can possibly count, and rightfully so, for it is the most important question anyone can and should ever ask. You cannot possibly over estimate the importance of this question. We were raised "on the streets," and one of the first things we learned was how not to be conned. We learned to take nothing at face value, but to verify everything; look for the angle, so to speak. So when we were first saved, the very first thing we did was seek the answer to this question. In our case there was a difference in the way we both learned the answer, for Ron was called into heaven for several hours, and knew he was in the presence of the Lord, but I did not have that blessing, so I needed to verify the truth and reality of the validity of Christ as the Messiah.

Let's look at the absolute, provable, in court evidence or facts. There is more historical, archeological, verifiable proof of a man called Jesus the Christ than there is about the Emperor Nero. There is historical proof of the absence of the body of Jesus from the tomb (which His enemies surely would have produced if they could have.)

The cities which were mentioned in the Bible are constantly being excavated and found to be exactly as scripture describes them. As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, God and the Word (or the Bible) are one and the same, so we must take the references from the Bible seriously. In looking at the Word, we have God Himself admonishing us to look, to investigate, to study, to examine whether or not there are now or have ever been any others who have fulfilled all the scriptures having to do with the Messiah. The answer, of course, is no. Only Jesus Christ, the one true God could have come and fulfilled to the letter that which was written so many years before His birth and subsequent ministry.

The Bible itself is a large book, broken down into 66 smaller books. It was written by approximately 40 different authors over a period of approximately 1600 years. (Dates: 1600BC-100AD.) Amazingly, not one word disagrees with another. It is without factual error, without contradiction and can be proven by even the most skeptical of persons.

Now, let us look at Jesus Himself, who, as we discovered in John, chapter 1, is the Word made flesh; and the scientific, mathematical study of the proven law of probabilities. In order for Jesus to be the Messiah that was promised who would take away the sin of the world, to be the Prophet that was spoken of, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the real Christ we were given 48 prophecies that had to be fulfilled by the Chosen One. This may not sound like a lot, but let me give you an example, based on the law of probabilities, of what it would take for one man to fulfill just 8 of these prophecies. (You can do the calculations on your own calculator or computer.) In order for one man to fulfill just 8 of the prophecies it would be equivalent to taking silver dollars and laying them side by side across the entire state of Texas so they covered the ground to a depth of 2 feet (not leaving an inch of open ground in the whole state.) Now, mark one of the silver dollars with a red 'x' and place it somewhere within that pile, anywhere in the state. Next, take a blind man and take him anywhere he wants to go in Texas and then have him reach down and pick up a silver dollar, just one. The odds of him being able to pick up the one with the red 'x' is equivalent to one man being able to fulfill just 8 of the prophecies concerning the Messiah.

The well-known scientist, Peter Stoner, in an article from the 1963 issue of Science magazine says, "The estimated number of electrons in the entire known universe is about the same number as one man being able to fulfill those prophecies. Can anyone still say it was an accident?."

In the man Jesus Christ, or Jesus of Nazareth, every single prophecy was fulfilled exactly and specifically the way it was given. There was not a single variation or contradiction. Many religions say that Jesus was simply 'a good man,' or 'a wise teacher,' or 'one of the prophets,' but I would say to you, no - a thousand times no! For in the words of C. S. Lewis: "For a man to say the things that Jesus said (concerning Himself), He would absolutely have to either be the true Messiah or a raving lunatic or madman. One or the other, but He could definitely not be a 'good man,' for He said He was the Son of God and He attributed the Deity of God to Himself." At the risk of offending our Catholic brethren, I must point out that the Bible says there is "but one name under heaven by which man must be saved - the man Christ Jesus." Scripture also says, "there is only one mediator between man and God - the man Christ Jesus." Neither Mary, nor the saints and apostles can bring salvation unto you, only Jesus, for it was He who made the ultimate sacrifice (please read the article, "A PRICE SO HIGH"). The Bible further says, "There is no one righteous, no, not one", and 'all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God," and "there was only one who was without sin" that One being Jesus. You might also read Jeremiah, chapters 7 and 44. We can choose to believe God or we can choose to believe man. We say, as did Joshua, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Devastating as it may be to some, the truth of the matter is this: only Jesus is to receive all of the glory, honor and praise. He is the one who answers prayers. Mary cannot, nor can the saints for they were mere mortals, needing salvation and the forgiveness of their sins, as is the case with us all. I am certain Mary would be horrified and offended if she knew she was being worshipped and idolized for she herself acknowledged that her son Jesus, was in fact, the only begotten Son of God, and the only true Messiah.

It is not my intention to get into a theological debate on the validity of the Bible with anyone, although I am sure there are those who would like to draw us into such an argument. It comes down to this: there is, in fact real, historical and scientific proof that Jesus is, in fact, the Son of God, but even with all of this proof, there will always be those who discount it and refuse to believe what their own eyes and ears tell them to be true. There will always be those who refuse to believe in God. There is nothing that will convince them He is real.

So be it, but the fact they do not believe in Him will never nullify the truth and eventually they will discover that, indeed He is alive, when they stand before Him for judgment. I refuse to argue or debate with them for the Bible says to have nothing to do with them. Many people, scientists, agnostics, even atheists have started out to prove that the Bible is false and that God does not exist, only to become believers as they uncovered fact after fact that proves the existence of God. It becomes a matter of choice. Either you will believe the irrefutable evidence or you will not. Many will simply be touched of God and believe by faith without the need for proof. Blessed are they. Their reward in heaven shall be great. We will always welcome valid questions from those who have a genuine interest in finding out more about Jesus, or desiring to know Him better, but, as I have stated, we will not debate the question with those who simply wish to argue.

It is our prayer that this article will be a blessing to those who are earnestly seeking to know the truth and who seriously want to know if Jesus really is who the Bible says He is - the only true God. Besides Him there is no other. They will find all of the answers to their questions for scripture says, "All who seek Me," (speaking of God)," shall find Me."

My next article will include a study on those things which are given to women by God for the good of the Body. These are gifts that have not been given to men, and for that reason, it is imperative that women begin to understand their place in the Body of Christ and fulfill the role God has given them, by walking in the fullness of their ministry. The Church needs the sisters, daughters of the Living and Almighty God, to stand up and go forth. Let no man tell you that you cannot do it, for Jesus Himself has given you the gifts and callings, and is sending you out, for, as scripture says, "your gift shall make room for you."

Your sister in Christ and His servant for His glory...

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