Some people think if God showed up with some kind of grand cosmic show, we'd all know he exists. That may be true, but my guess is there would still be plenty of people who would talk themselves out of what they had seen. That is why it might be more valuable to look at evidence beyond a single sighting. I offer you three pieces of evidence here.

The Fine-Tuning of the Universe

You wouldn’t have found many atheists among ancient peoples. When they looked at the vast sky, the endless horizon, and the splendor of life, they couldn’t help but believe that something—or someone—must have started it all. You may have had the same thought while gazing at a breathtaking canyon or swimming among the vibrant fish of a coral reef. But is such a thought just lazy thinking that science has now undermined? Not at all.

Scientists have long recognized that the universe is governed by dozens of physical constants, all of which must be perfectly fine-tuned for intelligent life to exist. For example, if the force of gravity were just slightly greater, the universe would have collapsed back on itself; if it were slightly weaker, stars and planets would never have formed. By slightly, I mean if the gravitational constant differed by 1 part in 10^60, we’d all be in trouble! The same is true for dozens of other physical constants—alter any of them even slightly, and conscious life on Earth (or anywhere else in the universe) would be impossible.

One way we determine whether something happened by accident or was intentionally designed is by observing the precision of the outcome. For example, if you come home and see Scrabble® pieces scattered randomly on the floor, you might assume the cat knocked over the box. But if you arrive home to find the pieces carefully arranged in a crossword puzzle, you would reasonably conclude that someone intelligent had arranged them.

Given that so many physical constants of the universe are perfectly fine-tuned for life, maybe the ancients weren’t so far off in their thinking. Maybe there is good reason to believe in a God who put the pieces of our universe together just as they need to be.

The Necessary Characteristics of a First Cause

Have you ever known anything to come into existence without a cause? Babies are conceived when sperm and egg unite. Buildings are constructed through the coordinated efforts of developers, architects, and contractors. The words on this page exist because authors, editors, and computers made them so. Everything that comes into existence has a cause.

But what about the universe? The Big Bang Theory and the Second Law of Thermodynamics tell us that the universe did not always exist. If that’s the case, then it too must have a cause.

Strangely enough, before the universe came into existence, there was no time, no space, and no matter, as those are the basic ingredients of the universe itself. That means the cause of the universe must be timeless, non-spatial, and immaterial. It must also be powerful and intelligent, given the immensity of the universe and its fine-tuning for life.

So what is timeless, non-spatial, immaterial, powerful, and intelligent? Interestingly, these are the very characteristics the Bible ascribes to God—even though its writers had no knowledge of modern science. How could that be? Maybe it’s because there is a God who gave them inside information.

Our Cry for Justice

When was the last time you felt unjustly treated? Probably not long ago. Even if you’re not easily offended, I doubt you’d shrug your shoulders if your life savings were stolen, your child was bullied, or your home was burned down in an act of racial hatred. When such things happen, people cry foul because, deep down, they know that some things are objectively right and some things are objectively wrong for everyone, everywhere.

But here’s something you may not have considered: If humans are nothing more than biochemical machines that evolved through a series of unguided, random mutations, then we are all just “dancing to our DNA.” In that case, nothing anyone does to you is good or evil—it’s just a product of their programming and environment.

But if we take that stance, how can we explain our deep-seated cry for justice? Only if there is a God who created us and established moral laws can we say that the rape of a woman is objectively evil or that outlawing murder is objectively good. Only if there is a God, who by his character defines good and evil, can we hold people morally accountable and explain the unshakable conviction we all have that some behaviors are right and others are wrong for everyone. Maybe, then, our cry for justice is the most important clue of all.

In what direction do these three pieces of evidence point? They point to a God who is an eternal, intelligent, powerful, just, and good Creator of all things.

There are two kinds of truth—one that lies in the mind of the subject and one that lies in the object. For example, you may believe it to be true that chocolate ice cream is the best flavor in the world. At the same time, I may believe that mint chip is the best. In other words, when it comes to the best ice cream, truth rests in the mind of the beholder (or subject)—and your subjective truth may contradict my own.

But there is another kind of truth. It is not found in the subject but within the object itself. For instance, you may be confident that a frozen lake can hold our weight, and I may disagree, but what we think or feel to be true is not what matters. What is important is whether the lake can actually support the 350 pounds we collectively weigh! In other words, the true strength of the ice is not determined by our subjective opinions but by the strength of the object itself. This is what we call objective truth.

I explain these two kinds of truth because when people consider questions about God, they often place any answer in the subjective category. That is, they assume we can have differing opinions about the matter (as we do about the best ice cream flavor) and should therefore gladly accommodate—and even celebrate—people’s different beliefs about God. But if God is real, then our differing opinions (or subjective truths) about the nature of God are not what is important. What matters is the truth found in the object of God himself, because, in that case, we cannot each have our own truth.

In response, some might say, “But even if there is a real God about whom there is objective truth, can we really know enough to confidently make any claims about him?” The answer is yes—if there is evidence in our world that reveals God’s capacity and character. Just as we use evidence to discover objective truth about everything from gravity to granola, we can do the same with God. In a previous discussion, we examined evidence for the existence of God. That evidence points to God as extraordinarily powerful, intelligent, and creative. It also suggests a God who loves good and hates evil.

Am I suggesting that we can know everything about God? No, but that shouldn’t hold us back. You and I don’t know everything about the sun (nor does anyone else!), but we know enough to set our clocks for a predawn run, put on sunscreen when spending a day at the beach, and keep sunflowers out from under cover if we want them to thrive. Similarly, if God exists, we need not know everything about him to be confident in some really important things about him. And if that’s the case, there is no reason we can’t begin applying what we know of God to the way we live here and now.

If it is true that the idea of God and miracles contradicts modern science, I can understand people’s reluctance to embrace the supernatural, given all the benefits science has brought us. However, there are several reasons to see that science, God, and miracles are not actually at odds with one another.

First, you may have heard it said that religion is about faith, while science is about reason and evidence. This notion, however, is a misconception of faith. Faith simply means trusting in something enough to rely on it. For example, one person might have faith that penicillin will heal their broken leg, while another has faith that it will cure their pneumonia. Both individuals exhibit faith when receiving penicillin, but the first relies on faith without evidence, whereas the second bases their faith on evidence. When it comes to faith in God, the key question is whether it is based on sound evidence. As noted earlier, there is strong evidence supporting the existence of God—much of it coming from the field of science—so faith in God should not be seen as contradicting science.

Second, some argue that because science has explained certain phenomena once attributed to God, belief in God is no longer valid. But does scientific discovery actually negate the existence of God? Imagine I tell you that I renovated my kitchen. Later, you find out that a team of tradespeople did the actual work. Was I wrong to say I redid the kitchen? Not really, because I provided the funds, selected the general contractor, and chose the colors, materials, and appliances. In this sense, I was the primary cause of the renovation, while the workers were secondary causes. Similarly, one could argue that God is the primary cause of the world and that he uses secondary processes—such as photosynthesis or nuclear fission, as discovered through science—to accomplish his purposes.

Third, it is not necessarily the existence of God that troubles people in relation to science but rather the concept of miracles. The concern is that miracles would violate the laws of nature. However, consider a couple lying on the floor. Gravity keeps them there. But if they are in a vertical wind tunnel (like those found in indoor skydiving facilities) and the tunnel is activated, they will soon appear to “defy gravity.” Of course, they are not actually breaking the law of gravity; rather, they are responding to an additional force within the system. Similarly, Christians believe that God created the laws of nature but, at certain times in history, has introduced additional factors that result in what we call miracles. Do these miracles break the laws of nature? No, they simply introduce new inputs that influence how nature behaves.

So, if you love science and appreciate all the good it has brought, that is perfectly reasonable. But I hope you see that this does not mean you must set aside belief in God and miracles.

You’re in a hurry on a busy sidewalk when someone reaches out and says, “Here, take this book and read it. It’s God’s Word to you.” Would you take it? Probably not. Why should you trust that the book is from God and has anything to say to you? That’s a legitimate question—not just for an imaginary street encounter, but for the Bible as well. Christians say the Bible is God’s Word, but why should we bother reading it? More importantly, why should we trust it more than any other religious book? Answering that question involves examining its authenticity, accuracy, and authority.

Authenticity

The question of authenticity asks whether what we have today accurately represents what was originally written. If the Bible is a document that has been changed repeatedly, it would be difficult to trust it as the Word of God. So how do we know if the Bible today is authentic? Ideally, we could compare the original with the copies we have now, just as we could do with copies of the Declaration of Independence. Unfortunately, for ancient documents like the Bible, the originals have likely long disintegrated. And even if we found them, we couldn’t know with certainty that we had the original and not just an early copy. But this doesn’t mean we’re at a loss when it comes to having confidence in the Bible’s authenticity.

Scholars who study ancient texts of any kind express confidence in an original document’s content if: 1) many copies exist, 2) the copies compare well with one another, and 3) the earliest copies date close to the original.

Relative to other ancient documents, the Bible scores very well on all three counts. Consider the New Testament: more copies of it exist than perhaps any other ancient text (about 6,000 Greek manuscripts alone). These copies compare well with one another, and the earliest copies date within 100 years of the original. By comparison, consider the first-century writings of the Roman historian Josephus—only about 150 copies exist, and the earliest copy was produced some 1,000 years after the originals. This highlights just how well-authenticated the Bible is.

Accuracy

The Bible does not present itself as a collection of fables and fantasies. Instead, it claims to tell us about real people who lived in real places and took part in real events. If we are to deem the Bible trustworthy, we must examine just how accurate its historical record is. We can do this by taking the biblical records and comparing them with non-biblical historical accounts, archaeological findings, and internal evidence—such as the inclusion of “embarrassing” details.

Non-biblical historical accounts include sources like the Babylonian Chronicles, which describe Babylon’s conquest of Israel in similar terms as the Bible. They also include the writings of ancient historians such as Josephus, Tacitus, and Celsus. These three men, though opponents of Christianity, nonetheless confirm details of Jesus’ life, miracles, and crucifixion.

Archaeological findings further support the Bible’s historical accuracy. For example, ancient clay seals—used to verify the sender of a scroll—have been discovered bearing the names of dozens of biblical figures. Additionally, various stone and clay artifacts from ancient Assyrian, Hittite, and Moabite cultures contain inscriptions detailing conquests, cities, and people that align with biblical accounts.

Some dismiss the Bible’s accuracy, believing it to be a self-promoting book written by those seeking to gain a following. However, internal evidence challenges this view. If the Bible were merely designed to glorify its leaders, we would expect its main characters to be depicted in glowing terms. Instead, we see something quite different: biblical heroes like Abraham, David, and Peter are all shown making serious mistakes—lying, committing adultery and murder, and denying Christ. If the events and people of the Bible were fabricated to make its leaders look good, such “embarrassing” details would likely have been omitted.

Authority

Even if you accept that the Bible has been well-preserved and is historically accurate, believing that it is God’s authoritative word is another matter. So why should we consider the Bible authoritative for our lives? Fulfilled prophecy, miracles, and changed lives may help answer this question.

Imagine a coworker predicting the precise score of a game week after week in an office betting pool. The first time might be luck, but if she keeps it up, you could reasonably conclude she has inside information. Similarly, the Bible contains numerous precise prophecies about the Messiah—predictions about his birthplace, lineage, betrayal, manner of death, burial, and even those who would die alongside him. We know these prophecies were not written after the fact since they are included in ancient biblical manuscripts that predate the time of Jesus. One statistician conservatively estimated that the odds of just eight of these prophecies being fulfilled by one person is 1 in 10¹⁷—a number roughly equivalent to the total number of seconds since the beginning of the universe. If his calculations are even close to correct, it’s reasonable to conclude that there was a divine source behind the Bible.

If someone claims to be speaking words from God, we should be skeptical. But if that person also heals the blind, the paralyzed, or those afflicted with terminal diseases, we might give his claims more weight. This is why Jesus told his detractors that if they dismissed his bold claims about speaking as God, they should reconsider because of the miracles he performed (John 10:37-38). If the Bible is a trustworthy historical record, then the miracles of Jesus (and the miracles of others whose words are also found in the Bible) is a good reason to believe its message comes from God.

A final reason to consider the authority of the Bible is the profound change it has made in people’s lives. Throughout history and even today, people who have taken the words of Scripture seriously have experienced remarkable transformations in character, outlook, and behavior—often in ways difficult to explain. My future son-in-law grew up in a non-Christian home, where the only spiritual influence was Eastern New Age thought. Although he achieved worldly success at a young age, he could not shake the shame he felt for many of the choices he had made, the constant pressure to prove himself, or the anxiety that came with it. Yet when he turned to the Christ of Scripture, his shame was replaced with freedom, his relentless striving with a sense of acceptance, and his anxiety with peace. In a sense, his life—along with countless others like his—serves as additional evidence that the Bible is indeed from God.

We began with the question: Why should you—or anyone—trust the Bible? My answer is that it bears the marks of authenticity, accuracy, and authority.

In recent years, it has become popular to claim that the collection of “books” in the Bible cannot be trusted as having divine authority due to the way they came to be included in the Bible in the first place. The argument suggests that Jewish and Christian writings originally included many books not found in the Bible, but that, years after their authorship, those in power excluded works that did not align with their desired narrative. However, this is not an accurate portrayal of how the books of the Bible came to be recognized as divinely inspired.

Throughout biblical history, those who followed God recognized which writings were from Him and preserved them for instruction through the ages. Furthermore, this recognition occurred at or near the time of their writing, not centuries later. For example, the people of Moses’ day acknowledged that his writings were from God (Exodus 20:18-19; Joshua 1:8). Likewise, those living during the time of the prophets accepted their writings as divinely inspired (Daniel 9:2), and the people of the early Christian era recognized that the disciples’ writings held the same authority as those of Moses (1 Timothy 5:18).

People recognized the divine nature of biblical writings largely due to two key factors. The first was the writers’ proximity to God. When Moses ascended Mount Sinai, the accompanying thunder, smoke, lightning, and trumpet sounds clearly signified that he was in God’s presence (Exodus 20:18). Because of this, people readily accepted that the commands Moses brought down were more than his own words. Similarly, when the apostles wrote about Jesus as the Son of God, their firsthand experiences with the living and resurrected Christ gave their writings credibility.

The second reason certain writings were so quickly considered divinely inspired was the miraculous signs and wonders that accompanied their authors. Moses, for instance, played a central role in the plagues that struck Egypt during the Exodus (Deuteronomy 34:10-11), and Daniel was miraculously unharmed in the lions’ den (Daniel 6). Such miracles reassured people that these men were truly speaking for God. The same holds true for Jesus’ disciples, who also performed miracles. Acts 14:3 states that the apostles “spoke boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.”

Therefore, contrary to popular belief, later church leaders did not decide which books should be considered Scripture to shape a self-serving narrative. Instead, they simply affirmed what had already been widely recognized as divinely inspired. That’s no different than what Christians do today, when they declare the Bible to be the Word of God.

No one enjoys feeling awkward or out of place. So, it's no surprise that people feel uncomfortable when the Bible takes a position contrary to prevailing thought or practice. That’s why you may have said or heard, “There may have been a time when the Bible made sense to people, but haven’t times changed? Don’t we know better now?”

I have little doubt that, in some matters, we do know better now. I, for one, am certainly glad that slavery is no longer tolerated in the United States and that women have the right to vote. But we should recognize this: the current position on slavery and voting rights is not better simply because people support those rights today. If we call something right or good only because it aligns with the times, then we would have to say there was nothing wrong with slavery in the 19th century or with a woman’s inability to vote before the 20th century. No, things are right and wrong not because they conform to current trends but because they align with a deeper, timeless wisdom—something I find in the Bible. As Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “A just law is a man-made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God.”

When people say the Bible is outdated, what they often mean is that they no longer want to be subject to its constraints. At best, they see the Bible as cramping their style; at worst, they view it as spreading dangerous ideas. However, I wonder if leaving the Bible behind truly frees us from its constraints.

Suppose, for example, you read a time-tested book on health and fitness. It tells you that if you want to live longer, have more energy, and engage in robust activity for decades to come, you need to exercise regularly and watch what you eat. You try it for a while but soon find that you miss your regular Netflix binges and greasy hamburgers loaded with all the fixings. So, you get rid of the book. But, of course, getting rid of the book does not truly free you from its teachings. You may no longer apply its instructions, but you will not escape the consequences.

The Bible tells us that love is patient and kind. It says that love is not jealous, boastful, proud, or rude. It even tells us that love does not demand its own way (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). You can ignore these biblical words and try to find love while avoiding anything the Bible has to say on the matter, but I doubt it will work out well for you. Undoubtedly, being patient, kind, and not demanding your way are “constraints,” but they are constraints you can't truly avoid if you want a sweet, intimate, and fulfilling relationship with another. The more I experience life, the more I find that the so-called constraints of the Bible are actually a masterful road to peace and joy, sparing me from many needless heartaches along the way.

For generations, many teenagers have felt that their parents were “out of it” and simply did not understand how things are done today. But as life moves along, those once self-assured teenagers begin to see that their parents weren’t so clueless after all. In one way or another, their parents’ advice seemed to “get smarter” and more valuable than they had ever imagined. I wonder if the same is true of the Bible.

Maybe today, you think it is hopelessly out of date, but perhaps one day, as the years roll by, it will seem wiser and wiser. Not because its words have changed, but because life will bring you to a place where you find it to have more value than you ever hoped. If so, you will no longer see the Bible as full of bygone constraints but rather as a source of life-giving words that lead to a better way.

Throughout history, many who have called themselves Christians have preached one thing but acted in ways that contradict their words. You may have read about local church leaders stealing church funds or, worse yet, abusing children in their care. You may have even been caught in the crossfire of a Christian’s angry tirade. Given the presence of so many Christian hypocrites, why even bother with the Jesus they preach?

Christians often joke that the answer to every question is Jesus. While that’s not entirely true, in this case, it’s an answer that fits.

First, Jesus was not a fan of hypocrites. If you read through the biblical accounts of his life, you’ll find that his harshest words were directed at those he openly called hypocrites (see Matthew 23, for example). That means if religious hypocrisy disturbs and frustrates you, Jesus is your ally, not your enemy.

Second, Jesus never called people to follow Christians; he called them to follow him. He knew his followers would fail others, so he consistently directed people to himself. Like you, I sometimes find it difficult to befriend certain Christians because they don’t always live up to what they profess. But Jesus is entirely different. If you examine his life, you’ll see that he practiced what he preached.

Third, Jesus laid down his life for others. What may bother you about some Christians is that they often seem to be fighting for their own cause or lining their own pockets. But Jesus didn’t do that. His heart was set on the hungry and the hurting, the sick and the seeking. And to top it off, he gave up his life for us.

Finally, Jesus offers something beautiful—life with him forever. If his offer is true and we accept it, we will never be alone in the difficulties of our present lives. Furthermore, Jesus promises that if we trust him, we will one day join him in a world free of pain, suffering, evil, and hypocrisy. What could be better than that?

If a scoundrel holds a sign pointing toward the Grand Canyon, it wouldn’t stop you from going there—it’s just too magnificent to miss. Similarly, just because Christians are not always admirable in character or conduct, pursuing Jesus is still worth the journey.

Most religions teach the importance of being kind to your neighbor, caring for your family, and being honest in your dealings on one level or another. Given this similarity, many conclude that all the world’s religions basically teach the same thing and that any differences are merely window dressing. If this assessment is correct, no one religion should see itself as the only way to God or even the best way to God.

But is it true that each of the world’s religions is basically the same? Would followers of different faiths answer the following questions in the same way?

• Who or what is God, and what is that God like?
• Are all people of equal value, or does one group or sex have more value than another?
• Do people live one life on earth, after which they are judged, or do they live many lives and are judged for each life lived until finally reaching some ultimate state?
• Is there an afterlife, and what will it be like? If there is one, will we maintain our individual personhood or be blended into a larger consciousness?
• Is there just one possible eternal destiny (heaven, nirvana, paradise) that everyone will eventually reach, or is there a hell that will hold some people forever?
• If goodness matters for our standing in the next life, how is goodness measured?
• Is there a specific book or teaching we must follow?

A cursory study of religions helps us see that these questions are answered in very different ways. For example, Muslims and Jews believe in a non-Trinitarian God, while Christians believe God exists in three persons. Buddhists aren’t consistent on whether they believe there is a God, and some Hindus worship many gods—or at least many avatars. Mormons, on the other hand, believe that people can become gods if they work hard enough.

Or consider the varying religious views on what it takes to secure a place in the afterlife. Hindus seek increasingly better incarnations through asceticism, meditation, and sacrifice. Buddhists believe enlightenment is the key to a better destiny but requires letting go of all desires. Jews may look to the Ten Commandments as their way forward, and Muslims adhere to the Five Pillars of Faith with hope for paradise. Groups like Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses follow a long list of dos and don’ts, some of which are kept secret from outsiders.

Often, people say that all religions teach the same thing because they want to respect people of different faiths. But in many instances, putting all religions in the same camp can easily have the opposite effect. Imagine telling a Muslim that they believe the same thing as Hindus or declaring to a Buddhist that their faith is no different from Judaism. Would they feel respected or heard? I doubt it!

Of course, one could take a very broad view and say, “Sure, they don’t believe the same thing, but each religion is still about people trying to attain something higher and better by doing what they can to make that happen.” And with that, I would agree—with one big exception. That exception is Christianity.

What makes Christianity different from all other religions is that it is not about humanity trying to earn its way to God or heavenly bliss. In fact, it blatantly claims that no amount of self-betterment, self-sacrifice, religious practice, meditation, or altruism will get you closer to making the grade with God. Instead, Christianity is about God coming down to earth and doing what was necessary to prepare people for himself.

In Christianity, God is not an austere and distant force. He is one who loves us deeply. He exhibited this by willingly stepping out of heaven and coming to this suffering-laden earth in the person of Jesus to do for us what we could not do for ourselves. Knowing that our sin deserved death, he took that death upon himself and then rose from the dead to show us that he is in charge of what happens after we take our last breath. Having done this, he offers us the gift of forgiveness and invites us to be part of his family forever. We can reject this offer, but we can never do enough to merit it.

Trust in what Jesus has done, and you are given eternal life with the God who loved you enough to die for you. No striving. No counting good works. No endless sacrifices. Just an unimaginably wondrous relationship with a risen savior in this life and the next. No other religion presents a God like this. No other religion offers a free gift like this. This is what makes Christianity different from all the religions of the world.

Take a look at any of the world’s largest religions, and you will find a common respect for Jesus. Muslims see Jesus as a great prophet, Hindus regard him as a worthy avatar, and Buddhists often claim he was an enlightened one. Much of this admiration stems from Jesus’ moral teachings and his willingness to challenge the stubborn religious elite of his day. But while Jesus’ moral instruction was exemplary, it is not the primary reason Christians like myself see him as far more than an ancient sage or esteemed example. Rather, what makes Jesus special are his claims about himself and the evidence he provided to substantiate those claims.

If an acquaintance told you that he was God and that you must place your faith in him to secure your eternal destiny, you’d likely think he was either incredibly arrogant or certifiably insane. So, you might be surprised to know that Jesus made statements along these lines:

• I am equal to God (John 10:27-33; 14:9-10).
• As the Son of God, I am to be honored as God (John 5:21-23).
• As the Son of Man, I have authority over all nations and people in an everlasting kingdom (Mark 14:61-62, referencing Daniel 7:9-14).
• I am the promised Messiah who alone can grant eternal life (Luke 24:44-47; John 5:39-40).
• People must trust me to be made right with God and receive eternal life (John 6:40, 8:23-24, 14:6).

Now, those are audacious claims! They are claims that should be dismissed unless there is compelling evidence to support them. Jesus understood this, and so he presented two main streams of evidence: a broad range of miracles and the fulfillment of ancient prophecy.

When John the Baptist asked whether Jesus was the promised Messiah, Jesus responded: “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor” (Matthew 11:4-5, NIV). These words are a compilation of Old Testament prophecies and simultaneously a summary of the miracles Jesus performed. By sharing them, Jesus was essentially declaring, “Yes, I am the Messiah, and the miracles I have done, along with the fulfillment of prophecy, provide the evidence you need to know that my claims are true.”

When evaluating Jesus’ claims, we are left with four possible conclusions:

• Jesus never made these claims—they are legendary additions that developed over time.
• Jesus was lying and maliciously deceived people.
• Jesus was a lunatic—he genuinely believed he was God but was mistaken.
• Jesus is Lord—he truly is who he claimed to be.

How do we determine which of these is true? Well, consider this:

• Abundant evidence suggests that Jesus’ claims were not later fabrications but were recorded shortly after his death and resurrection by those who saw and heard Jesus or had easy access to those who did.
• The depth of Jesus’ moral teachings and his profound care for others are inconsistent with the character of a liar guilty of history’s greatest deception—especially when considering that he had no clear motive for lying.
• Jesus’ mental clarity, composure, and selfless concern for others do not align with the profile of a lunatic.

This leaves us with the final option—Jesus is exactly who he said he was.

Why do Christians consider Jesus so special? Because he claimed to be the Lord of heaven and earth, our Savior—and then proved it through everything he said and did.

“Is there any information that could persuade you to dismiss your belief in Christianity? That’s a question I am asked from time to time, and I respond by saying that if the resurrection of Jesus is shown to be a farce, I would abandon Christianity. That might seem like a brash statement, but in making it, I am only echoing the words of the Apostle Paul who wrote, ‘And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins’ (1 Corinthians 15:17).

When considering the evidence at hand, my belief in Jesus’ resurrection seems well-placed. “What evidence?” you ask. Present-day New Testament scholars (whether they are Christians or not) overwhelmingly agree on these facts:

• Jesus was crucified.
• Jesus’ tomb was found empty.
• Jesus’ disciples and others reported appearances of a resurrected Jesus.
• Jesus’ disciples publicly declared Jesus’ resurrection despite persecution.
• Former skeptics, like Paul and James, began to speak of Jesus’ resurrection despite persecution.

Again, these facts are embraced by more than just Christians, but by scholars of many different theological or secular persuasions. (To read more on this, see The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus by Gary Habermas & Michael Licona.) But how do we explain these facts?

Some suggest that Jesus never died but only appeared to be dead. So when people reported the “resurrected” Jesus, they were only pointing to a man who had been revived. Given the brutality of Jesus’ pre-crucifixion scourging, the gruesome method of crucifixion, and the incentive Roman soldiers had to make sure people were dead, it’s hard to think Jesus could have survived even in a comatose state. And if he did, his physical condition would likely convince no one that he had risen from the dead.

Others have said that the disciples went to the wrong tomb and mistakenly thought Jesus was alive. “Yes, a tomb was empty, but it wasn’t Jesus’ tomb,” they say. But if this was the case, we are left to ponder why Jesus’ detractors didn’t go to the proper tomb, produce Jesus’ dead body, and squelch the errant report?

Some have proposed that the reported appearances of the resurrected Jesus were only hallucinations. Three main problems exist with this theory. First, hallucinations only explain the appearances of Jesus; they can’t explain an empty tomb. Second, hallucinations are individual experiences (like dreams), but the historical record suggests many people witnessed seeing the resurrected Jesus at the same time. Third, when people reported seeing Jesus, he was not a ghost-like figure—instead, he walked and talked and ate and could be touched.

Finally, others have suggested that Jesus’ disciples stole his dead body and fabricated a story about his resurrection to create their own following. But given the embarrassing facts the disciples share about themselves in the gospels, not to mention their willingness to be persecuted for their deceitful scheme, lying about Jesus’ resurrection to gain a following seems far-fetched. Besides, why would a skeptic like Paul, a well-known first-century Jewish leader who had everything to lose by speaking of a resurrected Jesus, suddenly do so, unless he had seen the risen Jesus?

When an investigator considers a crime scene, she considers the body of evidence and seeks an explanation that best fits the facts at hand. Why do I believe Jesus rose from the dead? Because it’s the explanation that best fits all the evidence.

I like it when someone asks this question, in large part because it lets me know that he or she has understood the necessity of trusting in Jesus. But if trusting in Jesus is the only way to enjoy a relationship with God, one might wonder what happens to those who have never heard of Jesus. If they are cut off from eternal life with God, isn’t that unfair? A few thoughts can help answer this question.

First, throughout the Bible, God only requires people to trust in what he has revealed to them up to that point in history. Abraham, for example, certainly didn’t know anything about a crucified and risen Savior, but he did trust in the covenant God had made with him and the hope of one to come. Because he did, we are told that Abraham was credited with righteousness (Genesis 15:6) and therefore enjoys the presence of God today despite knowing nothing specifically about Jesus. So it is true that not everyone has the same extent of knowledge of God, the Bible, or Jesus, but God has revealed enough for people in every time and place to respond in faith.

Second, it may be that God is just in excluding those who have never heard of Jesus if he has given countless clues that can easily lead people to Jesus if they so desire. If, for example, my wife leaves a gift for me in a back closet and prominently places notes in the other rooms of the house pointing me that way, she can’t be charged with hiding the nature of the gift from me if I completely ignore the notes when I get home. Similarly, God has given us plenty in creation that points to his existence and has also endowed us with a conscience that lets us know we are less than perfect. Given those clues, if we don’t go seeking a Savior—a Savior who God is willing to disclose—perhaps we are more culpable for our ignorance of Jesus than we are willing to admit.

Third, we often err in limiting God’s ability to let people know of Jesus anywhere at any time. Throughout the world, even in places thought to be closed off from any witness of Jesus, people have reported receiving visceral dreams and visions of Jesus, even though they are steeped in other religions. In some cases, these dreams and visions point them to a Christian who can fill in the blanks or provide a Bible. Add to that what is now available online and through the airwaves, and there is good reason to doubt if anyone is truly out of reach of hearing about Jesus.

Finally, although the above answers may not fully satisfy those who ask this question, it should not be a question that keeps them from trusting in Christ. For even if we are unsure how God will justly judge those who seem unable to hear of Jesus, those who ask this question have heard and are responsible for responding to the Savior about whom they have heard.

Christians talk about God being all-powerful and full of love. But if God is loving, wouldn’t he want to stop evil and suffering in the world? And if he is all-powerful, couldn’t he stop it? If that’s your thinking, you are not alone. Many see the presence of evil and suffering as evidence that the Christian God does not exist. However, there are good reasons why evil and suffering do not negate an all-powerful and loving God. Here are a few:

Overriding Concerns

Many parents take a child to the doctor, knowing that the care the child will receive will involve some form of painful treatment. In most of these cases, the parents have the power to stop the administration of the treatment, and even cringe at the idea that their child must endure the pain. Yet despite the love they have for their child and the power they maintain, the parents allow the treatment to take place (and may even be directly involved in administering it) because of an overriding concern—the attainment of enduring health. If parents are justified in making such choices, then perhaps God is too. Maybe an all-powerful and loving God does not stop pain and suffering from coming our way because of greater overriding concerns.

Pain and Suffering Can Wake Us Up

Leprosy was not uncommon in the time of Jesus and is still a dreaded disease in some parts of the world. Often thought of as a skin disease, leprosy attacks the nervous system and makes the victim unable to feel burns, cuts, bumps, and bruises. As a result, care is not given to body parts when needed, and appendages can be lost due to infections and neglect. For people with leprosy, it would be a game-changer if they could feel pain again. Their body would properly alert them when something had gone wrong and needed attention. In other words, pain and suffering are not always a curse—they can be very instructive. Perhaps, then, an all-loving and powerful God allows pain and suffering to awaken us to the brokenness of the world and our role in it, so that we will seek a cure—a cure that God is willing to provide.

Evil Is the Risk of Real Relationship

I have little doubt that God could have made people so that they never committed evil, but one must wonder if that would have undermined real relationships. Recently, I saw some remarkably lifelike robotic dogs. They are soft and cute, waddle and wag their tails, and come when called. For some, they will be a fun novelty, but I doubt that many would forego a real pet for a robot. People don’t want a dog that cuddles up to its owner only because it is programmed to do so. Of course, a real dog also comes with the risk of a chewed-up couch or a soiled carpet, but most people are willing to take that risk for the sake of enjoying a real relationship with a furry companion.

That same risk is one that God was willing to take as well. Rather than making us robots who only do what is programmed, he gave us the capacity to freely seek his care and walk in his way. Unfortunately, we often don’t do as he desires—evil ensues, and pain and suffering follow in its wake.

Suffering and the Question of Justice

Suffering itself is not what concerns us most—it is unjust suffering that truly makes us question whether God exists. If, in an angry fit, a man punches a wall and breaks his hand, we do not decry suffering. But when a caring mother is paralyzed by the reckless actions of a drunk driver, we cry foul. “Where is God in that?” we ask. This is a question even those in the Bible asked (see Job and Habakkuk, in particular). It is a question our sense of justice will likely lead all of us to ask at some point.

But we must also ask—where does this sense of justice come from? Why do we think certain things are fair or unfair? If we are mere products of natural selection, simply "dancing to our DNA," is there truly such a thing as justice or injustice? As the former atheist C.S. Lewis wrote: “My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. But how had I got this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line.” In time, Lewis recognized that the "straight line" was defined by the goodness of an all-powerful and loving God. Without the existence of a God like that, we are hard-pressed to declare any event truly evil or unjust.

God Knows Our Suffering Firsthand

The points above may help you understand that the presence of evil and suffering in our world does not disprove the existence of an all-powerful and loving God. In laying them out, I do not suggest that knowing or embracing these reasons will take away the pain of the suffering you or others may be experiencing. A mother who loses a child will likely grieve in some measure all the days of her life, and rightly so. But when in the midst of pain and suffering like this, it can be immensely helpful to remember what God has endured and what he has promised.

The story of Christianity is that God did not remain distant from the hardships of the world. Instead, in the person of Jesus Christ, he came to earth and unjustly suffered rejection, torture, and death at the hands of evil men. When evil, injustice, pain, and suffering enter our lives, we often find the greatest solace in those who truly understand our pain and stand by our side. God says, as one who has suffered, that we can find that comfort and care in him—that he will listen when we cry in anguish and be there when we need him most. 

Attend most funerals, and you’ll find people talking about how their loved one is in a better place—even if no one in attendance is particularly religious. Listen more closely, and you’re likely to discern that people’s confidence in the loved one’s final destination is based on the belief that he or she was a “good person” . . . just like the rest of us. In other words, the general consensus is that if there is a heaven, good people go there, and nearly everyone qualifies as a good person. I have my doubts on both fronts.

When it comes to the “good works” model of earning favor with God, there are some significant flaws. For example, who decides what is good? In some cultures, killing out of revenge is revered. In others, it marks you as one of the bad guys and lands you in jail. So who is right? Or consider opposing groups in a civic protest—both may resort to violence and vitriol. Are they both justified, or is one doing good while the other does evil?

Even if we agree on who defines good and bad, we still must consider what constitutes a passing grade. I don’t know anyone who thinks he is perfect, which means that if the good works model is the way to heaven, the required score must also be less than perfect. But how much less? Do we need a score of 90%? Or just 50%? And even if we are clear on the needed score, how would we know where we stand at any given moment? The question “How good is good enough?” becomes even trickier if we consider not only the outcomes of our actions but also our intentions and motives. For example, is it counted for you or against you if you help an old lady across the street, but you do so because you want to look good in front of your girlfriend?

It’s not just the good works model that is problematic, however; it’s also the idea that any one of us can truly be counted as a good person. Don’t get me wrong—some amazingly generous, kind, and fair-minded people exist in the world. But even these “saints” admit they are far from perfect in what they’ve said, done, and thought. When I have asked people—who most would consider good—what they would do if their entire life (including every angry or bitter thought, every slanderous word spoken under one’s breath, and every inaction fueled by laziness, apathy, or self-absorption) were put on display for all the world to see, the response has been unanimous. Every single one has said they would run away in shame. And so would I, because no one is really all that good.

Given that the good works model has plenty of shortcomings, and given that no one is truly good, maybe being good isn’t a reliable path to a better life after this one. I believe that’s why Jesus told us that our only hope is to receive his offer of forgiveness and mercy.

Perhaps you have sought answers to your questions about Christianity, God, and the Bible, and you find yourself leaning toward Jesus. You may have even reached the point where you recognize you can no longer sit on the fence. You must trust Jesus or turn aside. To be honest, it is a choice no one can avoid. You either trust what Jesus said about himself as our only hope for peace with God now and forevermore, or you don’t. But what does it mean to trust in Jesus, and once you do, what then? These are the questions you might be asking now.

When Jesus called us to believe in him, he was not asking us only to believe that he existed or that he was killed. Those are important facts, but such a belief is no different from believing that Abraham Lincoln lived and was killed. No, when Jesus asked us to believe in him, he was asking us to embrace him as our only hope of being made right with God. He wanted us to know that apart from what he has done for us through his death and resurrection, our sin remains unforgiven, and the sentence of death hangs over us. As we read:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. . . . Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (John 3:16,18 NIV)

Imagine running from a raging wildfire, only to find yourself at the rim of a steep canyon. There is no way forward and no way back. Then you see a single suspension bridge spanning the canyon—it is the only option for reaching safety. But, of course, crossing it will require you to trust in its ability to hold you. If you don’t, you will lose your life, regardless of any earnest effort or good behavior on your part. This is the kind of trust Jesus is asking of you. He is asking you to believe that he is the only means to bring you to safety—to forgive your sins and make you a child of God forever. This is the answer to the question: If Christianity is true, where do I start? You start by trusting wholeheartedly in Jesus. As it is written:

If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 9:10, NIV)

If you have done this, we are told that the angels rejoice—you have been added to God’s family forever!

As you read this, you may say, “I have trusted in Jesus. I know he is my only hope. But I am not sure what to do now?” If that’s your question, let me provide a few valuable insights from the Bible that can help you in your journey forward with Jesus.

Love. Jesus was once asked what the two greatest commands were. He said they were to love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength and to love your neighbor as yourself. Christianity isn't about rules; it's about a love relationship—a love relationship with God that spills out towards others. So, if you want to grow in your walk with Jesus—love.

Let Jesus into every room. Trusting in Jesus for our salvation is like letting Jesus into our home, but don’t leave him standing in the entryway! Let him into every room of your house—let him be the one who shapes your family, work, social, financial, and recreational spheres of life. Yes, sometimes cleaning up the current mess will be painful, but he is good to us, and he will make each room of your house more beautiful than you can imagine. 

Keep on learning. When you date someone, you learn important things that give you the confidence to make your wedding vows, but if you quit learning about your spouse on your wedding day, your marriage is bound to suffer. Likewise, after you initially embrace Christ, you should continue learning about him and from him. This means that as a Christian you should read the Bible regularly so you can readily understand God’s heart and way.

Don’t go it alone. Walking with Jesus was never designed to be a solo journey. We need encouragement when the road is difficult, insight from those who have traveled before us, and help when we have fallen short. So, join a small group of other believers and be a part of a church that loves Jesus and teaches from the Bible.

Tell others. If Christianity is true—if Jesus is the only means by which we can enjoy life with God now forevermore—it is the kind of news that is too important to keep to ourselves. Jesus came to seek and save the lost, and he invites you and I to join him in that mission. That may seem daunting, but friends often tell friends about the good things in their lives—and what is better than Jesus?

Remain dependent. The Christian life begins when we place our trust in Christ and not in ourselves, and the Christian life thrives when we retain that same sense of dependence. That means looking to Jesus every day in prayer, asking him to give you strength and wisdom. Just as Jesus is faithful to forgive all our sins when we first come to him, he will be faithful to give us all we need as we journey through the ups and downs of life.

This may not be all you need to know, but I think it is more than enough to get you started. Besides, in the end, there is a much better teacher than me. His name is Jesus, of course. So keep trusting in him and he will show you the way.