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The book of Acts, Paul's method of reason, Proof and Persuasion!
Jesus 'also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.' (Acts1v3)
I have heard the question and it is certainly a valid, sincere and logical question that if it could be proved that Jesus is the Son of God surely everyone would believe?
Even though I do believe there is overwhelming proof, I don't believe they would. I will give two examples of that before I write a little on Paul's method of expounding the scriptures, persuading and proving that Jesus is the Son of God.
Firstly Jesus was able to cast out Demons which was something which to my knowledge never occurred in the Old Testament. Jesus fulfilled a massive amount of prophetic content listed in the Old Testament also. Many of the Jewish people knew that He had Messianic credentials if you like, because of the unique miracles that He performed and the prophecy that He fulfilled. They didn't accept Him as they were expecting Him to overthrow the Romans and bring in the Millennial kingdom then and there and they had no knowledge of the fact that He would return again and fulfill Isaiah 61 verse 2b onwards! The Day of Vengeance of our God hasn't happened yet despite what people may sing on Sunday mornings sometimes, but you will certainly know when it does occur and when the Millennium commences. Apart from the final battle after the Millennium there won't be any war and people shall beat their swords into ploughshares and will not learn war anymore (see Isa 2v1-4 & Micah 4v1-3)
Secondly Thomas had been with Jesus during His earthly ministry and would only believe that He had risen if he could physically touch Jesus side! Consider also the apostles reaction to Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary and the other women who told the apostles that Jesus had risen
'And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them' (Luke 24v11)
Also 'So it was while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained and they did not know Him.' (Luke 24v15)
Finally they ate together and 'Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. And they said to one another, Did not our heart burn within us on the road, and while He opened the Scripture to us?' (Luke 24v32 - see also Luke 24v27!)
Paul spent a great deal of time persuading and actually proving that Jesus is the Son of God. In Acts 9 verse 22 we read 'But Saul increased all the more in strength,and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that Jesus is the Son of God.'
(Proving means to test, try, demonstrate and provide evidence.)When Paul was...
At Thessalonica...
'Then Paul as his custom was, went into them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ." '(Acts 17v2-3)
At Berea...
'These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.' (Acts 17v11)
WE SHOULD ALL DO THIS REGARDLESS OF OUR SITUATION - WE ARE CALLED TO TEST THE SPIRITS WHETHER THEY BE OF GOD (SEE 1 JOHN 4V1)!
At Athens...
'Therefore he reasoned with the Jews and with the Gentile worshippers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there.' (Acts 17v17)
COULD WE LEARN SOMETHING ABOUT WITNESSING FROM PAUL'S METHODS IN THE ABOVE VERSE?
At Corinth...
'And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.' (Acts 18v4)
At Ephesus...
'But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.' (Acts 19v9-10)
Notice when Paul appealed to Caesar the Jews couldn't prove their complaints against him!!
'When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood about and laid many serious complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.' (Acts 25v7)
What happened when Paul had the guts to ask King Agrippa a question?
'King Agrippa do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe. Then Agrippa said to Paul, You almost persuade me to become a Christian.' (Acts 26v27-28)
What happened at Rome?
'So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening. And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved.' (Acts 28v23-24)
To summarise, Paul proved to those in Damascus that Jesus is the Messiah. Paul made great effort to expound the Law and the Prophets to prove the Messianic credentials of the Lord Jesus Christ. We will all do ourselves a favour if we take a leaf out of Paul's book. Some will believe and some won't. Praise Him for the ones that accept Jesus gladly!
Amen! |
