HOW MUCH EVIDENCE IS ENOUGH?

What would it take to convince the world that Jesus is the Creator of the Universe, that He died, was buried, and rose again according to the prophecy of the Scriptures, and that He will return to judge those who reject Him (Jn. 1:1-3; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:1-2; 1 Cor. 15:1-8; Rev. 20:11-15)? As a former atheist, I know what it took for me. It took a complex series of circumstances, perfectly timed, to instill in me the faith to believe. God gave me the faith as a gift, not because I was someone special, but because He wants all to be saved (Eph. 2:8-9; 2 Pet. 3:9). If He would go to all that trouble to convince me, I have to believe He does whatever it takes to reach every living soul (Acts 10:34). Unfortunately, it appears the majority of the human race rejects the evidence provided each of them.

The Bible says that the Jews require a sign to believe, and the Greeks (Gentiles - all non-Jews) seek after wisdom (1 Cor. 1:22). The entire Old Testament contained hints, clues, and clear statements that provide the people of Israel with what it took to identify their Messiah when He came/comes (I say "comes," because He came to save them from their sins over two thousand years ago, and He will return to save them from their enemies sometime very soon - Jn. 1:11; Rev. 19:11-21). On the day of His resurrection from the dead, Jesus told two of his disillusioned disciples that they should have expected Him to die and rise again; the Old Testament said so (Lk. 24:13-32). Israel had focused upon the Scriptures that told of a coming King, and had missed the part that described Him as the Suffering Servant (Jn. 5:39-47). All the miracles He did to reveal His identity were lost on them; He didn't fit their picture of what the Messiah should look like.

Although the entire Bible was written by Jewish authors under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and all the converts to Christ up to the time of Acts Ten were Jews, it was the Gentiles who responded to the Gospel message. As John wrote in his Gospel, Jesus offered Himself to His people Israel and they rejected Him, but many Gentiles responded to His offer of grace and were adopted as children of God (Jn. 1:11-12; Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:5; Eph. 1:5). As mentioned above, the Gentiles sought wisdom; they wanted to be convinced through reasoning (Acts 24:25; 26:28). Unfortunately, if it were possible to prove that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died for the sins of the whole world, and that He will return to rule and reign forever, then faith would not play a part in salvation. But, salvation requires faith; one must believe what the Bible teaches by faith; it cannot be proven (Eph. 2:8; Rom. 10:8-17).

All the miracles done by Jesus did not convince the Jews of the truth. All the reasoning presented through sermons, books, and testimonies has not convinced a lost and dying world that Jesus is Lord. Whatever evidence needed to bring about a surrender to the Lordship of Christ, whether signs or logic, has been provided in the Word of God. The Holy Spirit offers the gift of faith to those who want to believe. Trust Jesus as your Lord and Savior, or reject the gift of faith and deny Him. It is up to you!