Really!!!... Resurrected ???

Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.”  And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.” Acts 17:1-4

Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,  because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, “We will hear you again on this matter.”  So Paul departed from among them.  However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them. Acts 17 30-34

Perfect model for evangelism.

In Acts 17 the Apostle Paul provides the perfect model for evangelism for the followers of Jesus. His message is the same but his audience is different. The first group have some familiarity with the scriptures and the stories contained within. Paul spoke with these folks within the context of their religious expression by meeting with them on the Sabbath and he reasoned from the scriptures. Now he did not get caught up in why following Jesus would make your life better, heal your body, or make your children obey you. He explained the death burial and of Jesus Christ. Some were persuaded other were not.

There are many people in our day who are admires of the bible and practitioners of religion. However they have not been persuaded about the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our duty is to take what opportunities we are given and explain this central aspect of our faith. Those that admire the scriptures and practice religion are all around us. Will you be bold enough to share your faith? Not all will be persuaded, but don't let that discouraged you, be encouraged some will be persuaded and believe. It might even be a great multitude with leading women among them.

I live in New England, a section of the United States with many people who admire the bible and practice religion. However they are not been persuaded that Jesus died for their sins, was buried and rose again, according to the scriptures. Many of the creeds they have recited say these exact words. The problem is that have only recited they have not been confronted to the reality of how the Gospel effects them personally.

The second group is very interesting as well. They have no connection to the Bible. You can not reason with this group from the bible because they don't believe the Bible. That is ok,...it is just fine. Tell them Jesus is alive anyway and that he died for their sins and that he rose from the grave. Some will mock you, that is ok too, because every person on the earth knows that they are going to die someday. Most believe that we will have to give an account of our lives somehow. Every human being is aware that not only can't we meet the standards of gods, goddesses or the spirit in the sky we know we can't meet our own standards for human goodness and kindness,. We fall short of our own glory not just the maker's glory. Some of these who do not know the bible do know that there is a day of judgment and hearing they may come to believe.

You might be familiar with the bible, you might not. Let us reason together. If there is a judgment day appointed by the maker of all things might he have been kind enough to make the way plain and simple. I believe he did by sending his son in the form of a man that we might know God. He demonstrated this by raising him from the dead. The scriptures testify of this truth but so does the human heart that sees blessing and judgment manifested in the world every day. I pray that you come to believe!