Some say we don’t need evidence to believe and they make the statement, “If it has meaning to you to believe, do so even if it has no evidence.”
They also quote passages like 2 Corinthians 5:7: “For we walk by faith, not by sight,” and Hebrews 11:1: “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen…”
The question that we must ask is, “Is it God’s will that we walk blindly with no evidence to support our belief?” Remember what Jesus taught about the blind leading the blind?
“If the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.” Matthew 15:14
So what does God’s word teach about obtaining belief through evidence? John 20:31 “These things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ…” Acts 17:11 “They received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” Romans 10:17 “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.”
Romans 1:17“The righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith…”
Paul’s conversion is recorded as evidence in Acts 22:1-21; 26:1-18; 2 Timothy 1:8-12.
Peter’s conviction is recorded as evidence in 2 Peter 1:12-21.
John’s personal experience is recorded as evidence in 1 John 1:1-4.
John states, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.”1 John 5:13
So has God left us with or without evidence? Consider the physical evidence. The broken seal…The removal of the huge stone…The grave clothing…The missing body of Jesus.
Consider the eye witnesses, Mary Magdalene, Cleopas and his companion, Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the less, Lebbaeus/Thaddaeus, Simon, Thomas, over five hundred brethren at once, James the Lord’s brother, Matthias, and Paul.
Consider all the converts who believed and accepted the truth about the resurrection. Those converted on the Day of Pentecost. Acts 2:22-41. Those converted in the city of Samaria even Simon the Sorcerer Acts 8:12-13. The Ethiopian eunuch Acts 8:26-39.Cornelius the Roman centurion Acts 10:1-48. Lydia and the other women Acts 16:11-15. The jailor and his house Acts 16:25-34. Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue and his household and the others at Corinth Acts 18:8. What about the multitudes throughout the world. Acts 17:6; Colossians 1:23
When it comes to evidence of the resurrection Luke wrote, “In the first book, (Speaking of the gospel account that bears his name) O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He was taken up…He presented Himself alive to them after His suffering by many proofs…” Acts 1:1-3
There is evidence of the resurrection and that evidence continues to mount up as countless souls all over the globe accept Jesus Christ as their risen Savior. What about you have you become one who offers evidence of His resurrection by being baptized and risen in to newness of life?
What are you waiting for the sky to open so you can see Him in the air? If that is the case for you it will be too late to believe in His resurrection!
About the author:
Don and his wife Brenda have been married 48 years. They have two married sons Jason/Crista and Nicholas/Heather and four grandsons Luke, Ryker, Blake and Drew. Don is a graduate of the Gateway School of Preaching, Fairview Heights, IL, the Bristol Roads School of Biblical Studies, Flint, MI and he has a bachelor’s degree in religious education from Michigan Christian College. He has been preaching since 1979. He has preached at Pacific, MO; Howell, MI; Arnold, MO; Festus, MO; Dexter, MO; and De Soto, MO where he has served since 2007. He also serves the congregation as one of the elders. Don has done campaigns and meetings in several states and mission work in Cuba, India, and Jamaica. Don refers to himself as a “Minister” because he loves ministering to others and helping them learn about Jesus and growing in their relationship with Him.
De Soto church of Christ 