If I Have Enough Faith Will God Do What I Want & Evidence of Jesus (Part 1)

Introduction

Welcome back! Today, we are picking up from our discussion last week. Our topic was, "If I have enough faith, will God do what I want?" That question raises a lot of concerns on many levels.

Will Faith Lead to God's Compliance?

A Straightforward Answer

Let's address the main question: if you have enough faith, will God do what you want? The answer is unequivocally no. We have covered this before, and you can find more insights in our previous episode on prayer and healing. But the key takeaway here is that faith doesn't necessarily lead to God acting in accordance with our personal desires.

Misinterpretations of Faith

You might wonder about instances where Jesus teaches, particularly in the New Testament gospels, that if you have enough faith, you can move mountains. It's essential to note that Jesus directed these teachings to the apostles, not to the general masses. The apostles had a unique mission to live by the Spirit in ways we do not. The Sermon on the Mount and other teachings to the masses did not carry this message.

Unfortunately, some people misinterpret and misapply these teachings to support beliefs like faith healing. If Jesus had meant this for everyone, as Ethan brought up, the world would be a chaotic place with many people claiming miraculous powers all around us, similar to today's faith healing movements.

Evidence of Jesus

Starting the Discussion

Now, let's dive into a significant topic: evidence of Jesus. This is a conversation that could take multiple sessions, so we'll start today and continue next week.

Historical Existence

Historically, there is little to no real debate about the existence of Jesus. Even prominent atheists like Richard Dawkins acknowledge his existence. They argue that the question is not if Jesus existed—since the name was quite common in the first century—but rather if Jesus was a claimed miracle worker. For this, we can refer to historical texts like those of Josephus.

Conspiracy Theories

Some conspiracy theories suggest that the story of Jesus was fabricated to manipulate the Romans, with figures like Josephus supposedly playing significant roles in this plot. This theory falls under the Herodian concept. We acknowledge the existence of such theories, but that's a topic to delve into next week.

The Bigger Questions

So, what about the core issues? The much harder questions revolve around whether Jesus performed miracles, whether he was crucified, and if he resurrected from the dead.

Conclusion

In summary, the existence of Jesus is widely accepted historically, with the real discussions often focusing on his actions and their implications. We'll continue to delve deeper into these discussions next week. Stay tuned!

Evidence of Jesus

Introduction

Is there evidence for Jesus? This is a question that can delve into various depths. The question often arises: is it about evidence of Jesus as God, or just evidence of Jesus existing?

Evidence of Jesus's Existence

When discussing the existence of Jesus, it is arguably an easier question with a more straightforward answer than discussing his deity. The existence of a man named Jesus in the first century is generally accepted, which some view as not particularly significant. However, when we discuss Jesus, we should focus on whether there is evidence of someone who performed miracles, claimed to be the Son of God, was the Messiah, gave his life on the cross, and resurrected.

Preparing for a Deeper Dive

For now, this remains an area requiring further preparation and study. Some participants have not yet gathered all the necessary information, but we plan to delve deeper into this topic in the future.

Conclusion

Join us next week as we explore the evidences for Jesus as the Son of God, focusing beyond just the historical figure of a man named Jesus.