Apologia
Reasons to Believe for Skeptics, Seekers, & Believers
The Film Study Guide – Epilogue
Watch the entire Epilogue and make some mental notes. This final section is a bit of a summary with thoughts about reasons to believe and a challenge to follow Jesus.
To seek out God is not new to the human condition in fact our spiritual journey is an innate drive within all people through the age and in every culture secular and non-secular, read the famous Merced Eliad’s book, Sacred and Profane, where it is powerfully argued that even non-believers are drawn to religious behavior like the ancients. The problem is that without true Believers’ belief in God people wander into idolatry and false worship and confusion.
If we accept the Wager and faith is not true, we lose nothing! On the other hand, as we wager, that is believe and embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ it is true we have eternal bliss and fulfillment, and purpose now. If we reject what Jesus Christ taught, we are damned forever, which is a central warning of Jesus; Matthew 13, Mark 9:43, Matthew 10:28, Luke 16:25, Matthew 25:46, Luke 13:24-28.
To have Salvation is to:
- Believe and accept that God loves you, John 3:16, Romans 5:8.
- Realize that our fallen/sin separates us from God, Romans 3:23,6:23.
- Be willing by the power of the Holy Spirit to turn (repent) and embrace, surrender, and believe in Jesus as our Savior and Lord, Mark 1:15, Acts 4:12, John 14:6, Matthew 7:13-14, John 6:44, Revelation 3:20-21.
- Believe= Greek is Pisteuo, means, reliance, trust in, faithful, trust-worthy, rely on, have faith in, being persuaded by the Lord.
To believe in Jesus is more than an intellectual agreement or ascent. Believing in Jesus Christ involves a surrender of the heart, mind and soul and a passionate love for God while it creates a desire in us to follow Jesus in a daily, prayerful relationship. For Jesus to be Lord of our life we are called to be His disciple.
To be a true disciple is to practice: Worship, Prayer, Bible Study, Fellowship, Service, Christ likeness, Witness, Humility.
Can you find Scriptures for the above? (There are many).
During Jesus’ earthly ministry he was traveling through the region of Caesarea Philippi, which is a place where many “false gods” were celebrated and received devotion. Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15) Simon Peter made the great confession, “You are the Messiah, the son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16)
Only one force, one power could and does continue to affect our human existence, history, and our very being, in such a broad global way: Jesus. As you travel to the most remote parts of Asia, Africa, the Americas, Islands, who do people of ever ethnic group praise and worship? Jesus! “For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself,” 2 Corinthians 5:19.
