This great lesson on a personal faith in Jesus Christ is taken from a lesson by Mark Copeland

1. Why I Believe
In Jesus Christ!
John 3:16-18

2. Because of Fulfilled Prophecy!
• The apostles appealed to the Messianic
prophecies to produce faith in Jesus Ac.3:18; 17:1-3
• Examples of Messianic prophecies:
– Conflict between serpent and seed… Gen 3:15
– Blessing on all nations thru Abraham’s seed…
Genesis 12:3; 22:18
– Prophet to come to be like Moses Deut. 18:15,17-19
– Would be born of a virgin Is. 7:14
– Forerunner would prepare the way of the Lord Is. 40:3
– Suffering servant to bear our iniquities Is. 53:4-12
– His resurrection from dead Psalm 16:8-11
– His ascension into heaven Daniel 7:13-14

3. Because of Fulfilled Prophecy!
• They help identify the One who is truly the
Messiah!
– The Old testament has approx. 330 prophecies
concerning the Messiah
– Jesus fulfilled EVERY one.
• Mathematical probability of it being a
coincidence is astounding…
– The probability of any man who has lived fulfilling
just 8 prophecies has been calculated as 1 in 10 17th
power (100,000,000,000,000,000). – Peter Stoner

4. Apostolic Testimony
• The apostles claimed to be eyewitnesses
Acts 10:39-42; 2 Peter 1:16-18; 1 Jn. 1:1-3
• The apostles testimony force us to make a
decision 1 Cor. 15:14-15; 2 Pet. 1:16-18
• We cannot say they were sincerely deceived
or mistaken Acts 10:39-41; 1 Jn. 1:1-3
• They leave no room for saying they were
mistaken or deceived…
– Resurrection appearances of Jesus witnessed
by many – 1 Cor. 15:4-8

5. Apostolic Testimony
• If apostolic testimony is false…
– New Testament is a lie
– Apostles suffered extreme hardship for
what they knew was a lie – 1 Cor. 4:9-13
– Those martyred (all but one) knew they
were dying for a lie
– They went against what they and Jesus
taught 1 Peter 2:1

6. Apostolic Testimony
But if the apostolic testimony is true…
• Then Jesus is everything they taught He
claimed to be:
– He is the Son of God - Rom. 1:4
– He truly has ALL authority in heaven
and earth - Mt. 28:18; Acts 2:36

7. Apostolic Testimony
• Then everything they testified concerning what He
taught is true!
– He was from the Father, spoke the words of the
Father – John 8:28-29
– No one can come to the Father but through Him
Jn. 14:6
– His blood was shed for remission of sins Mt. 26:28
– He came to offer abundant life John 10:10
– He went to prepare a place for us Jn. 14:2
– He shall come again Jn. 14:3
– There will be a resurrection of the dead and
ensuing judgment John 5:28-29; 12:48

8. The Plan of Salvation
• Trust in the saving power of His
blood! Revelation 1:5; Matthew 17:5
• Hear – John 6:45
• Believe – Mark 16:16
• Repent – Acts 2:38
• Confess – Rom. 10:10
• Baptism – Acts 22:16
• Then, Be faithful to God – Rev. 2:10