05/28/2022
The seminal fact of the Christian faith is the life death and resurrection of Christ. Despite the strong biblical evidence we have extra-biblical, historical corroboration. Tacitus circa 116 AD, no sympathizer to Christianity testifies in his Annals 15:44, of the life of Christ, his crucifixion by Pilate and of the necessity of persecution in order to put down what he refers to as a superstition. Josephus, in his Antiquities stated that Jesus lived, drew many to Himself and was crucified by Pilate and that those who loved him did not abandon him even to the present day.
The point is this, the biblical testimony of the existence Christ is confirmed historically, the biblical testimony of his crucifixion is also confirmed historically. Therefore, can there be any reasonable position other than personal prejudice (spiritual blindness) to deny the reality of the biblical testimony regarding the life death and resurrection of Christ, which is the Gospel proclamation. If we are compelled to accept as fact the testimony of the Gospel regarding Christ, then we must accept the testimony of Christ regarding Himself. John 12:32, John 14:6, John 3:16-36.
Paul himself testifies to the absolute necessity of the resurrection of Christ for the Christian faith and what it means in 1 Corinthians 15:14-22. Finally, if Christ had not been raised then He could have never ascended and if that were true then the Holy Spirit, the Comforter would never have come John 16:5-11. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is chronicled in the New Testament church beginning in Acts 2 and throughout its entirety. If the Holy Spirit had never come then Christianity would never have impacted the world as it has. The evidence of Christianity’s longevity despite persecution in the past and even today is the strongest evidence of God’s preserving work through the Holy Spirit, and the irrefutability of the Christian faith.
