Hello This is a Test

Tuesday Devo

Scripture:

Acts 22
6 Paul realized that some members of the high council were Sadducees and some were Pharisees, so he shouted, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, as were my ancestors! And I am on trial because my hope is in the resurrection of the dead!”
7 This divided the council—the Pharisees against the Sadducees—8 for the Sadducees say there is no resurrection or angels or spirits, but the Pharisees believe in all of these. 

Commentary:

23:8 The Pharisees believed in angels and spirits and in a future resurrection, though they did not accept Jesus’ resurrection; the Sadducees rejected the very idea of a resurrection as well as belief in angels and spirits. Consistent with this, the Pharisees granted that a spirit or angel might have visited Paul (v. 9), while the Sadducees rejected this possibility altogether. For more on the difference between the Pharisees and Sadducees, see article on Jewish Groups at the Time of the New Testament.

Questions:

  • Paul tells the religious leaders that his hope is in the resurrection of the dead. This is the central doctrine and foundation of our Christian faith: that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead. This is the one historical event that everything else is built upon. And we don't just have to believe it because someone said so. We don't have to take it on blind faith. We have historical documentation, both inside and outside of the Bible, that corroborates this claim. It is undisputed that Jesus lived, He died on a Roman cross, and most of His followers (including His own brother) went to their deaths claiming that they had seen Him alive. No one dies for something they believe to be a lie. Liars make bad martyrs. What does it do to your faith to know it can be based on reasonable evidence and not just blind faith?

  • C.S. Lewis said, "Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important." We can be certain, based on reasonable historical evidence, that Christianity is true. According to Lewis, that means it's of infinite importance. If it's true, everyone needs to know! How might your level of certainty and faith affect your eagerness and willingness to tell others about Jesus? When was the last time you did? If you don't tell them, who will? 

Pray:

  • That God would grow your faith as you learn more about Him.
  • That your heart would be stirred to share Jesus with people that need Him. 

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory! 

2. Are there sources outside the Bible that confirm the Biblical account of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead? Many Roman and Jewish historians have confirmed that the apostles died as martyrs for preaching that they saw Jesus risen from the grave. No one dies for something they know to be a lie.
(Luke 1:1-4; Acts 26:26; 1 John 1:1-4, Josephus, Clement, Hegesippus, Tertullian, Origen, Polycarp)

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