Yesterday morning Pastor Weber took us through the times of the baptism and temptation of Christ. I think that sometimes we lose the simple significance of this. The great point is that we have a trustworthy historical account of the life and times of Jesus. We have four separate books written especially about this time. Because they are bound together in our New Testaments does not detract from the reality that they are four separate witnesses and recorders of these historical happenings. Beyond that the apostle Paul speaks of over 500 witness yet in his day that could give record of these events and His resurrection. However apart from this there is an interesting statement from our Lord in the book of John that also speaks to the matter of belief:
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
It would seem to me that this verse of Scripture attests to the fact that belief in the Truth also requires a ministry of the Spirit of God. We who believe have God to thank for our belief! While our belief is support by solid historical and defendable facts, still the belief itself is given birth to by the Spirit of God. There is therefore both an objective and a subjective side to our salvation. That is the reason that it is a living thing. What a blessed privilege it is to be the people of God.
It is the unbelieving world that lives in the land of denial!
