Why I Believe Jesus Christ Is God

This article is based on Pastor Adrian Rogers' message, Why I Believe in Jesus Christ.

If you had only one chance to tell someone why you believe Jesus Christ is God, what would you say? How would you try to convince them? I once had one of the most challenging experiences of my life. I was in Moscow, Russia, given the opportunity to preach in a beautiful concert hall, the Red Army Theater, built to glorify Communist totalitarianism. Massive portraits of Lenin and Stalin hung in that theater. Sitting in the audience in their resplendent uniforms were Russian Army officers with their wives. God had given me a once-in-a-lifetime privilege—to tell them why I believe Jesus is God.

They had been raised in an atheist society, taught from their youth there is no God, and trained to hate Americans. I prayed, “Lord, what would You have me to say?” The Holy Spirit answered, “Adrian, tell them about Jesus—why you believe in Jesus Christ.” 

That’s what I did, from John 6: 

From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

I want to tell you why—just like Simon Peter—I’m sure Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” I gave the men and women in Moscow four reasons, found in this chapter, that will reinforce your faith and help you share with others.

I want to tell you, just as I told them, why I’m sure Jesus Christ is really God. Peter’s question of “Lord, to whom shall we go?” is my question for you: If you turn from Jesus, where will you go? To atheism? Philosophy? Materialism? False religions? Man is incurably religious. If he turns from Jesus Christ, he’ll go to a false religion.

Jesus Christ alone can meet the deepest hunger of the human heart, provide the answer to man’s sin, give meaning to life and death, take the sting out of sin, the gloom out of the grave, the pain out of parting, and give hope that is steadfast and sure.

But how do we know Jesus is who He says He is? Why do we believe in Him, give our lives to Him, serve Him, be willing even to die for Him?

Historical Reasons

Jesus Christ is a fact of history. All secular historians having any merit admit Jesus Christ walked the earth, regardless of what they believe about Him. H. G. Wells in his Outline of History listed the ten greatest men of history. Number 1 was Jesus Christ. Historian Sir J. G. Frazer, not a believer, wrote:

My theory assumes the historical reality of Jesus of Nazareth as the great religious and moral teacher who founded Christianity and was crucified at Jerusalem under the governorship of Pontius Pilot. The testimony of the Gospels, confirmed by the hostile evidence of Tacitus and Younger Pliny, appears amply sufficient to establish these facts to the satisfaction of unprejudiced inquirers.

You cannot explain the church of Jesus Christ apart from the history of Jesus, who lived, died, and rose again. After His resurrection, He appeared to 500 eyewitnesses at one time. “…declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4). “He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs” (Acts 1:3). There is more proof Jesus Christ rose from the dead than that Julius Caesar lived. That’s a historical fact.

Scriptural Reasons

The Bible, a book standing the test of the ages, confirms Jesus is the absolute, totally unique Son of God.

• His life began with a miraculous birth, the virgin-born Son of God.
• He lived a sinless, miraculous life. He never asked advice, though He walked among the scribes; He never apologized for anything He did or justified His actions, though He was often misunderstood; He never asked forgiveness because He never needed to, and never confessed sin a single time. Every part of His life was totally balanced in perfect sinless symmetry.
• He died a sacrificial death.
• He rose from the dead, becoming the “first fruits” of those resurrected for eternity.

The Bible presents the story of the incredible life He lived. But how do we know the Bible is true?

Five Proofs that the Bible is the Inspired Word of God:

1. Fulfilled prophecy: One-fourth of the Bible is prophecy. Of the 1,000 prophecies in the Bible, 500 have already been fulfilled down to the smallest detail.
2. Miraculous unity: Written over 1,500 years by at least 40 different authors in 3 different languages, on all kinds of subjects, 66 books, it is yet one book completely unified in message.
3. Longevity/Divine protection: It has survived through the centuries, even when governments banned or burned it.
4. Scientific and historical accuracy: The more archaeology uncovers, for example, the more the Bible is confirmed.
5. Power: Jesus said, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). The Word of God has transformed countless lives, empowered saints, upheld martyrs, strengthened the dying, comforted the grieving, inspired global missions, motivated building of schools and hospitals worldwide, and brought countless millions into a relationship with God. Of this book, Jesus is the central theme. “To Him [Jesus] all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:43).

SPIRITUAL REASONS

Some say, “Do you expect me to believe Jesus is God just because you say He was a historical fact? Or because the Bible says He lived, and you have evidence for the inspiration of the Bible? That’s not enough.” I agree. You must have the Holy Spirit to help you. If you want to know who Jesus Christ is, ask the Holy Spirit. The human mind on its own cannot comprehend God’s deepest truths. The Holy Spirit will testify in your heart that Jesus is indeed God. Jesus said, “…these are they which testify of Me” (John 5:39).

From 1 John 5:6-10:

…And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit…for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself…

He witnesses to you, and then He witnesses in you. If you want to know who Jesus Christ is, ask the Holy Spirit. God doesn’t just say, “You must believe, and if you can’t believe, that’s your hard luck.” God says, “If you want to believe, I will help you understand and know these things are true.”

Personal Reasons

When Peter said, “Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God” (John 6:69), Peter was saying, “I know it personally, through personal experience. I can testify. I’m sure.”

Don’t say you cannot believe. You may refuse to believe, but if you want to know the truth, God the Holy Spirit will confirm to you that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Once I received Him into my heart, now I have the witness on the inside. You could argue with me all day and never convince me against Jesus Christ. A Christian with the witness in his heart is never at the mercy of a man with an argument in his mouth. I know personally.

This is why I believe in Jesus, and I want to ask you to believe in Him. Precious friend, do you know Him? There’s nowhere else to go. He alone is the answer to your sin and your heart’s need. No one else can fill the longing of your heart. No one else can give you peace that passes all understanding. No one else has the words of eternal life. No one else walked out of that grave. But Jesus did. You can know and be sure that He is the Son of God.

I’d like you to pray and ask Jesus Christ into your heart. Trust Him and be saved today. Pray this from your heart:

“Dear God, I need You. I want You. I need to be saved. Jesus, I believe You’re the Son of God. I believe You paid my sin debt with Your blood. I believe that God raised You from the dead, and now I repent of my sin. I open my heart. By faith, like a little child, I receive You as my Lord and Savior. Come into my heart; forgive my sin, save me, Lord Jesus.”

If you prayed that prayer, then say,

“Lord Jesus, give me the power and help me to obey You and make public what I’ve done. Help me not to be ashamed of You. In Your name I pray, Amen.”

What is truth? 

Are you willing to spend 7 minutes a day for the next 7 days to explore that question?

Take the challenge that is based on this message & article.