Jesus, Why do you believe?

Question

I was raised Catholic, what I believe is that there are many inconsistencies in the bible and how the Catholic Church operates. I believe that there is good in everyone and that life in general is a blessing and it is up to us to identify it. I believe in god, or that there is an underlying tone in life that vibrates and keeps balance. I feel that there is an inner peace and happiness that requires no thought and exists in me. But, I come into conflict when I try and believe in Jesus Christ in this way. I understand what the bible says about him and I understand what he has done, but there is a distinct difference between understanding and believing. I want to know what makes you believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins and was resurrected? No bible references, just why you “BELIEVE,” like you believe that gravity exists, like you believe we exist, not just saying you believe but BELIEVING it.

Answer 1

The Holy Spirit within us, can't be ignored by us! The proof is literally within the Christian.



Once one understands one is powerless and seeks God, God shows himselff. The Holy Spirit enters and belief is absolute. It is impossible to ignore the Holy Spirit.



In the words o Anthony Flew, an atheists nearly 75 yrs who died a believer gave this response as one reason he no longer ignores the evidence and must follow it. "believers cannot posit an instance that would cause them to deny the existence of God. Genuine assertions, by contrast, can be falsified."



"I want to know what makes you believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins and was resurrected?"



1. The empty tomb.

2. Sudden transformation of frightened and uncertain disciples into bold proponents of the Resurrection for which they would die.

3. The claim that the church was the Body of Christ.

4. The transformation of the Christ-hater Saul, to the Christ-lover Paul.

5. A hermeneutical conviction by the early church which correlated the death, burial and resurrection of Christ with Old Testament Messianic references.

6. The inability of the Jewish leaders to disprove the Resurrection event.

7. The use of Sunday or worship on the “first day” instead of the Sabbath.

8. The conversion of James, the brother of Christ, who originally opposed the teachings of his brother.

9. An A.D. 117 account by Ignatius of Antioch to the Smyrneans:

Answer 2

I believe in what the bible says and I am living prof that God is real and so are all of you who are reading this. Think about the question why do you believe. We are like the Samoan that swim up river trying to get back home where they were born just to die they are hard wired for this. We are hard wired to be with God this is why no matter where you are from what religion you are in we are always searching for God. The funny thing is we don't have to search he is in all of us. I know that there are a lot of people out here that thinks that there is no God hell the people who walked with Jesus did not believe in him and they saw everything he did. So how are we to believe in him? WE ARE A REBELLIOUS GROUP WE DON'T WANT ANYONE TELLING US HOW TO LIVE OUR LIVES AND MAKING US FEEL GUILTY FOR HOW WE LIVE. NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT BUT WE ARE NO DIFFERENT THAN THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE 2000 YEARS AGO THEY DID THE SAME THINGS WE ARE DOING TODAY.I am going to give you all a little test. Take a look at your hand turn it up side down then right side up. Now keep looking at it don't think about it just feel the life that is in each finger each joint this is the vibration that some of you spoke of in your post this is God in you .You don't have to tell the blood in your vanes .

Answer 3

My step mom was an avid church goer. Throughout my childhood, she was always trying to find a church that she liked enough to make it her regular church, and of course my little brother and I were always dragged along to church. She finally found a church she liked, and we settled in to an "every Sunday morning" routine of Sunday school and worship service. I had always believed in God, but I didn't know what it meant to be a true follower of Christ. One day, after having been to this new church several times, my Sunday school teacher of the time came by my house to see how I was, and to read me some of the Scripture. When she read verses about Jesus's love, I cried. It was as though I could feel it.



The same thing happened when my first and only niece was born. Science may explain conception and the process of giving birth, but science simply does not explain the beauty and love that such an occasion brings forth. I cried when I first saw her, and again I felt God's love.



And that is why I believe.

Answer 4

You're right. There are many inconsistencies in the Catholic Church. Their ceremonial ritual prayers (with a comfy fold-down knee pad- wouldn't want praying to actually involve discomfort and personal revelation now would we!) turned me off from religion entirely. Then I asked for Jesus to come into my life and was forever changed. All of a sudden I had a real thirst for knowledge about Jesus, the Holy Bible and what it all means.



Since that time I have done my own research, backed up by decades of other scholarly research to further understand logically, the thing which had happened to me spiritually, which was the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. While I don't pretend to completely understand even half of the references in the Old Testament in context, I continue to learn and I have experienced enough credible evidence outside of my own experience that what I understand is correct.



Based on what I have read, experienced and continue to experience, Jesus Christ is God, in the appearance of a man, His creation, who stepped into time to give us the words of life and the correct way to live to ensure the continuance of life beyond what we can perceive with our limited senses. And, being the perfect Creator of the universe, is also TRUTH. The Bible being God-breathed through various individuals over a massively long (to us) time scale of over 1,400 years is inerrant and remarkably internally consistent and that any so-called errors are merely translation problems from one language to another.



God bless you and I hope you find Who you are looking for.

Answer 5

My belief began only because of what the Bible says. The Bible contains 66 separate books, which were written by thirty six men who were chosen by God to script His words. This took place over 1600 years and the evidence is in the events and the purpose of the scriptures.



The purpose of the entire Bible is to tell us about our condition of being separated from God because of our sins, God's plan to bring a Savior to die in our place for our sins, Jesus' birth, life, death and resurrection, that God's prophecy has taken place and about our invitation to belong to God as His adopted children through acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Lord and our Savior.







I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus. John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being. Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you. 1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love. Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me. 1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you from my love again. Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. Luke 15:7

I have always been Father, and will always be Father. Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…Will you be my child? John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you. Luke 15:11-32

GOD

Answer 6

We accept gravity as a fact because it's easily proven to be so. It seems like you need a little thing called "evidence" or "proof" to believe/accept something. Some people don't need that. Some people get by entirely on wishful thinking. If they want something badly enough, they can believe in it. Other people make real in their minds the things they most fear.



It's a fundamental difference in the way we think, and it determines whether or not you even have the capacity to be religious.



I know this because I know that I don't have the capacity to be religious, and I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one.

Answer 7

Of course you don't believe the Bible because it states there is none righteous no not one there is no one who does good. So go ahead believe in a false Christ but you will only receive Hell for it.



I believe and know that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and I know that He is the Great I Am that He will come to judge the quick and the dead and that He will come again on the clouds of glory and that He will reign on the earth for a thousand years. I know that my redeemer lives and shall once again stand upon the earth. I know that Jesus is YHWH

Answer 8

1 Corinthians 2:14

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.



"spiritually discerned" not discerned from a book. This is the verse that stands out for me more than any other. God speaks, you just have to learn to listen. I questioned Jesus at one point also. As I read my Bible thinking about it, my spirit simply felt that what I was reading was the truth. There are parts of the Bible where my spirit feels the opposite, but not on the subject of Jesus. Call it intuition if you want, but this is what makes me believe.



Edit: Oh, and remember...the Holy Spirit is a gift. (Acts 2:38)

Answer 9

Everything that happens in the Catholic Masses are from the Bible. There are no inconsistencies/errors in the bible. It's God holy word and He is sinless. He would not speak with error. People, like King James, is human only and was a sinner. He changed the bible greatly.



I believe because I was raised by Catholic parents. Going to church on Sundays and holy days, saying the rosary in May, saying grace before dinner, etc. Sent to Catholic school for 8 yrs. I rebelled in high school and got an F in religion class one year because I refused to read the bible and do the work. I played devil's advocate with the teachers. The nuns hated that.



I left the church and God for 15 yrs. after graduation. I never stopped believing that God existed. How else did the great universe get here? After my 3rd suicide attempt, I started studying the bible at my parents' church. I have gone to Mass a few times over the past 9 yrs. But I like studying the history of the bible. I still believe in God because I truly believe He saved me from the suicide attempt. Doctors said I should have died within 2 hrs of taking the pills. I only slept for 26 hrs. I pray daily, talking to Him throughout the day. Yes, some days I pray less than others. But I'm grateful for each day now. Even though I still suffer from depression.



I believe God has given me the gift of faith. He wants me in Heaven eventually. I have to keep myself on the right path to get there.

Answer 10

I believe ,against all the opposition to believe because I can't help but believe in Him.

I was raised in the desolate war years and hardly had a loving or religious childhood.

Undernourished , frequently ill ,bullied by boys and adults alike enduring incontinence lasting many years getting severely punished for it and therefore few friends I was not encouraged to believing in a warm ,loving God.

I learned by enquiry that Jesus believes in me. Yet I am convinced such a thought was God inspired not ndoctrinated.As a result He has changed my life.Despite all the odds continuing to be against my happier expectations I sense "underneath are the everlasting arms". I have learned that the precepts , actions and subliminal knowledge of Jesus goes far beyond our capacity to fabricate . As for scientific arguments, day after day the frontiers of knowledge roll back to reveal the innate intelligence and wonder of all life and creation .The moral enigmas have been the only stumbling block and particularly the worldwide chaotic effect of wickedness.Only Jesus offers any realistic resolution to our position as modern culture and higher education only compound such intractable ruin with arrogance and spiritual ignorance

That'swhy I believe in His authority ,His foreknowledge of events and His forgiveness of my part in societies failure through disobedience and sin.

Answer 11

.

There are NO inconsistencies in the Bible - it is the Pure Word of God.



Unfortunately we cannot say the same for the Roman Catholic Church,



It is full of inconsistencies, heresies and errors



Most here, including you, appear to believe IN the Bible -



even Satan believes IN the Bible - - - B U T



most (including Satan) do not BELIEVE God and the Bible . . .



.

Answer 12

The difference between those who believe and those who don't is through having a personal experience. It is the difference between reading about the fruit called an apple: knowing everything about it - what it looks like, is supposed to taste like, its texture, etc; and actually eating the apple.



God came into my life through a miracle. A believer that I worked with received a word of knowledge from God that was about me. When this word came true, I had to face the truth that there is a Living God, the God of the Bible, who loves each and everyone of us; who wants to have a personal relationship with us. He wants to bless you with eternal salvation through His Son, Jesus. If you take one small step toward Him, He will run to you!



If you are really seeking God with all of your heart, He will reveal Himself to you. My advice for anyone who is seeking God to read the first five books of the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts. Read Jesus' words and the things that He did. But, before you read, pray to God to reveal Himself to you through His written word. The Bible will come alive!



God bless you!

Answer 13

I agree with this part of what you say:



"I believe that there is good in everyone and that life in general is a blessing and it is up to us to identify it. I believe in god, or that there is an underlying tone in life that vibrates and keeps balance."

Answer 14

I was a 27 y/o Protestant in a Catholic Church for the first time. I was not going to go up for the Eucharist as I wasn't Catholic. Then Jesus spoke to me in my mind with thoughts. Along with the thoughts there was a warm, caring, masculine presence.The words were, "Would you refuse me?" Jesus had to say that to me 3 times before I got up and took the Eucharist. I converted to Catholicism soon after that.

Answer 15

You know the moments when your in panic, anger, frustration, fear, agony or misery. I just say his name and it's like a catharsis. I've always found more peace in believing in something than believing in nothing. Because believing in nothing has made me empty, un-whole and unsatisfied, like I'm always looking for something more.

That's where christianity comes into the picture.

Money will come and go, Knowledge is fullfilling but never satisfying. Friends and lovers are always amazing, but at some point you will feel hungry for more and you'll get hurt more.

At moments like this, I feel like believing in God really fills that void in my heart. I feel like it has changed my life..really.

It's not easy to put this in words.

Answer 16

The picture I get of Jesus from the gospels is exactly what I would expect the Messiah to be. The mythos of a Messiah seems like the correct part of the narrative to fit into how we will be rescued from this vale of tears. I don't believe God intended to have Jesus killed or 'sacrificed' His Son for my sin, but instead sent him to lead us, first the Jew and then the Gentile, but when evil men killed Christ God raised him from the dead in an act that defeated the power of death over Man, once and for all time.



I believe God through Christ will reconcile all humanity to himself, heal us and make us whole, and in that state bring us into his presence for a blissful eternity.

Answer 17

yeah I have been learning horrible things about Roman Catholicism too graven image idolatry, suppresing knowledge they kept the bible out of the english language for a thousand years+ anybody that tried to translate Gods word was burned aka William Tyndale



Study more seek who God is but first you must repent and turn from your sins

Answer 18

I believe because He is historically reliable and he was proven to be God through the resurrection, which best explains the explosion of christianity out of judaism.

Answer 19

I thought RCs didn't worry about JC at all. I'm rather surprised that one of the campers at Woodstock hasn't gotten just as famous yet.



Orchid, how could god be sinless if he knew just what to make a sin? He missed a few things.

Answer 20

The mythical story of Jesus' crucifixion is a horrible, sadistic story of human sacrifice. Christians even celebrate it by ceremoniously drinking his blood and eating his body. This is ritual vampirism and cannibalism.



The idea of blood sacrifice for vicarious atonement (i.e. the mythical Jesus dying for other people's sins) is immoral -- punishing the innocent to free the guilty. But, it's good marketing.



There's no reliable evidence for God/Yahweh, Jesus, Allah, Zeus, Vishnu, Thor, or any of the thousands of other gods that people have worshiped. If any of the major gods existed, there would be reliable evidence. Since no such evidence exists, these gods do not exist. There's also extensive evidence that they are all just myths, created to help soothe our fear of death, and perpetuated through religion to subjugate the underclass into obedience.



Science has shown that there's no need for gods to explain the traditional reasons for a god -- origin of the universe, origin of life, origin of species, origin of humans, origin of morality. Science also shows us the psychological reasons that people believe in god(s). See the 1st link for the video, "Andy Thomson: Why We Believe in Gods" or buy his book at the 2nd link.



Here's the long answer about Jesus, which is needed to cover all bases.



All reliable evidence points to Jesus Christ being just a myth. There is no reliable evidence that Jesus even existed, and significant evidence that he didn't. The evidence is in the Bible, the other religions of the time, and the lack of writings about Jesus by historians of the time.



The story of Jesus can be shown to be just a myth created to fulfill prophesy, cobbled together out of stories from the Old Testament and previous gods and myths -- created in the 40's and 50's by Paul of Tarsus (who exhibited symptoms of epilepsy and had delusions of Christ talking to him), the other apostles, the unknown authors of the gospels in the 70's or later, and many other people. The reliable evidence for this is overwhelming.



Paul and the other epistle writers don't know any biographical details of Jesus' life, or even the time of his earthly existence. They don't refer to Bethlehem, Nazareth, Galilee, Calvary or Golgotha — or any pilgrimages to what should have been holy sites of Jesus' life. They also don't mention any miracles that Jesus was supposed to have worked, his virgin birth, his trial, the empty tomb, his moral teachings. To them Jesus was largely a sky-god, who existed in the spiritual past.



If Jesus had actually existed, Paul would have written about his life, disciples, and teachings. Paul did not write about any of this. Paul wrote (in Romans 16:25-26, Galatians 1:16) that he knew Jesus through revelation, which is another term for fantasy. We can also tell that people were accusing Paul of lying, because he attempted to defend himself in Romans 3:5-8.



If Jesus had actually existed, the gospels would have been written in first person format. Instead, they were written in third person fiction format like a Harry Potter story, with Matthew and Luke extensively plagiarizing from Mark. The gospels were also written in Greek, which the disciples would not have known.



If Jesus had actually existed, at least one of the approximately 30 local historians of the first century would have written about him. No historian of the first century (including Josephus and Philo of Alexandria) wrote about him or his disciples.



Therefore Jesus didn't exist.



The Jesus story also shows extensive similarities to other myths of the time (especially Dionysus, Mithra, and Horus). Some early Christians attributed this to Satan who went back in time and created the religions that "copied" Christianity.



Jesus is worshiped on Sunday because he is a sun god, like Mithra, Zeus/Jupiter, Horus, Attis, Dionysus, Adonis, Tammuz, Hercules, Perseus, Bacchus, Apollo, Helios, and Sol Invictus -- whose birthdays are also on the old winter solstice of December 25, when the sun is “reborn.”



There were more than a dozen other deities and saviors who were resurrected after violent deaths -- Mithra, Osiris/Serapis, Inanna/Ishtar, Horus, Perseus, Bacchus, Attis, Hermes, Adonis, Hercules/Heracles, Tammuz, Asclepius, and Prometheus. Christianity just told the story the best, and managed to get control of the government under Constantine.



For much more evidence, see the links (3+).

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Answer 21

I believe Jesus was Jewish...Oh yes Jesus was descendant of King David a Jewish King.

Answer 22

I was where you are 10 yrs ago. Today I am an athiest. You cannot make yourself believe something you know doesn't add up...you will struggle your whole life if you insist on it!

Answer 23

I believe because I freely choose to Believe.

Answer 24

Unity with Christ is LIFE. Worthily partaking of Holy Communion after cleansing ones conscience - provides a unique mystical contact with God Himself.



15.John 15:4-5

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.



I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.





The experience itself requires faith, and participation inspires belief. If you don't seek Christ, you won't find Him and there are many other distractions out in the world to lead us away from Him even if we are so fortunate to encounter Him.



"Cling unto God"



This will save us despite the temptations that assault us. He is our strength and our refuge, of whom then shall we fear?

Answer 25

You don't need to "believe" in gravity, we know as a demonstrable fact that it exists.



Does using caps double the amount that you believe?