How to Defend Jesus' Resurrection for a Skeptic

[Who me]

13 hours ago, R. Hartono said:

We dont need to argue with peop!e or try to memorize arguments, just say the truth that Jesus has resurrected, full stop.

Its the job of Holy Spirit to open people's heart, not our job, we only need to share Gospel with love but without forcing people to believe.

Yes we have to tell people the gospel, but we also have to answer there questions, as scripture says ' always be ready to give a reason for your belief.'

 

 

[Justin Adams]

I like the videos by Dr. Job Martin. He was a non believer and his students challenged him. He then created the video series, Incredible Creatures that defy evolution. I found that very informative and his story is oft repeated.

[hdtwice]

Lee Strobel... The case for Christ... Not the movie but when he personally speaks is a great source on this. 

H

 

[BloomingxRose]

I think it's important to determine if the atheist really wants to learn or just wants to score points. If they only wish to score points don't engage with them. Pray for them but don't get into a debate with them.

If you think the person you're talking to really is open-minded, ask what kind of evidence will convince them. I don't think quoting relevant passages will work, because atheists don't trust the Bible is true. Even if you can show a firsthand account of the issue you're discussing, they will say it's made up or unreliable. Probably the better thing to do is look for sources they do trust first, such as other historical accounts or secular scholarship. Convince them with their own materials and it will show them the Bible is reliable. If you can't find anything that affirms the Biblical passage, don't focus on persuading them with facts. Instead, work on their heart. The athiest in the example who doubts the ressurection may not believe the Bible but can be moved by prayer and compassion.

*I was an atheist/agnostic for about 8 years. What worked on me was not facts but God's love and the weight on my conscience.

 

[Justin Adams]

34 minutes ago, BloomingxRose said:

Probably the better thing to do is look for sources they do trust first,

Yes. Dr Heiser suggests that WE control the narrative (not them). Ask what they believe and why etc. After all, God is God and in His Heaven. Nothing can ever be a threat to Him.

[JohnD]

Tell them to prove Jesus didn't raise from the dead.

 

[Leonardo Von]

Quote

How to Defend Jesus' Resurrection for a Skeptic?

Only give in to Jesus and His Word and He will use you to defend Himself before everybody:

• "For the eyes of Jehovah run to and fro in all the whole earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is perfect toward Him..." (2Ch 16:9)

He wish to show His strength and power. It is us who preclude Him.

[JohnD]

The LORD factored faith into the formula IMHO for several reasons.

Hebrews 11:6 (AV)
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

and that there would be times when a combination of human worldliness, stubborn resistance, ignorance, selfishness, etc. would make it appear that there is no evidence for the existence of God, or his Word, or his plan of salvation, or even the resurrection. 

But there is, was, and shall be a time of proof and affirmation for those who believe / have faith.

There is a way that seems right to a man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death. Proverbs 14:12 / 16:25. Put another way, human nature under the influence of Satan (Matthew 16:23).

Brilliant minds for millennia come up with reasons that sound good that sound logical that convince millions not to believe in God...

Yet every word, every posture, every dogma, every volume, every school of thought is false... untrue... a lie... unreal... and will ring in the ears of the damned for all eternity in the lake of fire 

Mark 9:44–48 (AV)
44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

The bitter irony of this is, for all eternity to come they will know as a fact the simplicity of the Gospel and what would have saved them from this damnation was to merely believe in the genuine Jesus Christ. But that was the worst thing to ask of them in this life. Their lives didn't even have to change all that much as a result. All they had to do is believe.

John 3:17 (AV)
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Even if it was only a superstitious eternal fire insurance policy to them, why? Why couldn't they simply believe (just in case...)?

That's point number one.

Point number two:

Why would the God of the Hebrew and Christian Bible hang everything on the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth?

All the historic events from the global flood, the exodus of the Hebrews, the rise of Israel... all of it... just to center it all on the resurrection of one man...

1 Corinthians 15:12–19 (AV)
12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

1 Corinthians 15:32 (AV)
32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.

That includes throwing out the Bible, both covenants, the existence of God, everything God did in all history and eternity for that matter and to just live it up.

So everything hangs on the resurrection of the dead, and more specifically on the resurrection of Christ.

This is also why atheists, skeptics, perverts, and agnostics all doubt, challenge, deny resurrection and more specifically the resurrection of Christ.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[JohnD]

25 minutes ago, JohnD said:

The LORD factored faith into the formula IMHO for several reasons.

Hebrews 11:6 (AV)
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

and that there would be times when a combination of human worldliness, stubborn resistance, ignorance, selfishness, etc. would make it appear that there is no evidence for the existence of God, or his Word, or his plan of salvation, or even the resurrection. 

But there is, was, and shall be a time of proof and affirmation for those who believe / have faith.

There is a way that seems right to a man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death. Proverbs 14:12 / 16:25. Put another way, human nature under the influence of Satan (Matthew 16:23).

Brilliant minds for millennia come up with reasons that sound good that sound logical that convince millions not to believe in God...

Yet every word, every posture, every dogma, every volume, every school of thought is false... untrue... a lie... unreal... and will ring in the ears of the damned for all eternity in the lake of fire 

Mark 9:44–48 (AV)
44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

The bitter irony of this is, for all eternity to come they will know as a fact the simplicity of the Gospel and what would have saved them from this damnation was to merely believe in the genuine Jesus Christ. But that was the worst thing to ask of them in this life. Their lives didn't even have to change all that much as a result. All they had to do is believe.

John 3:17 (AV)
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Even if it was only a superstitious eternal fire insurance policy to them, why? Why couldn't they simply believe (just in case...)?

That's point number one.

Point number two:

Why would the God of the Hebrew and Christian Bible hang everything on the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth?

All the historic events from the global flood, the exodus of the Hebrews, the rise of Israel... all of it... just to center it all on the resurrection of one man...

1 Corinthians 15:12–19 (AV)
12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

1 Corinthians 15:32 (AV)
32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.

That includes throwing out the Bible, both covenants, the existence of God, everything God did in all history and eternity for that matter and to just live it up.

So everything hangs on the resurrection of the dead, and more specifically on the resurrection of Christ.

This is also why atheists, skeptics, perverts, and agnostics all doubt, challenge, deny resurrection and more specifically the resurrection of Christ.

 

Granted, this intense almost crusader-like disbelief in the resurrection does not in and of itself prove anything substantial about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It could be rooted in the resentment of a dogmatic Church that only in recent centuries allowed dissent of the dogma in any form. But that is not always the case in history. For many of the non-believing 1st Century historians of the day acknowledged (at least) that the Christians utterly held to the resurrection since the very beginning of Christianity. 

Thus the development over the centuries argument is refuted.

These include:

* Thallos
* Mara bar Serapion
* Tacitus
* Pliny the Younger
* Suetonius
* Lucian of Samosata
* Celsus
* Josephus on two occasions (though the first is controversial because of possible tampering)
* Even the Talmud on two occasions

These are mostly mentions of the existence of Jesus of Nazareth.

We have the New testament teachings of the resurrection of Christ. And one Old Testament one many overlook:

Job 19:25–27 (AV)
25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

Clearly this is the resurrection of Job being spoken of.  But it establishes the fact of physical resurrection and even the purpose:

• redemption
• facing God

Isaiah 7:14 (AV)
14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Isaiah 9:6 (AV)
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Daniel 9:26 (AV)
26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

Isaiah 52:13–53:12 (AV)
13 Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.
14 As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:
15 So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.
1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Hosea 6:2 (AV)
2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

Then of course the sigh of Jonah which Jesus himself cited:

Matthew 12:39–40 (AV)
39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

 

[JohnD]

But the most telling evidence for the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth is the dying testimonies of all of the Apostles... who nearly all were martyred for their testimony. If they did not witness the actual resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, then almost all of them would have denied it... men do not die for what they know to be untrue.