Lesson 1, Topic 1
In Progress

Shared Experiences

This is Good News

Peter spoke from personal experience. It was also a shared experience. Peter appealed to their experiences with Jesus, saying, “…as you yourselves know.” They had watched Heaven’s story touch Earth’s story. They had seen Jesus’ divine powers that showed Him to be approved (“accredited”) by God. Despite this, they had rejected Jesus. But Jesus’ death did not end Heaven’s story. “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact!” Peter spoke confidently to many thousands. Not one person there, not even Jesus’ worst enemies, claimed that Jesus had not really died. (Such theories came centuries later from people far removed from the crucifixion event.)

The collection of reports and letters from the eyewitnesses and their helpers is called the New Testament. Examine the lives of the reporters. They were ordinary people, the kind who would be welcomed as witnesses into good law courts. Their testimony leads to life!

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name (John 20:30-31).

A Better Foundation

Look into how the New Testament has come down to us. No other ancient book is like it. It has by far the greatest number of old copies. The best of these copies go back very close to the actual events and witnesses. There was not time for wild legends to grow and hide the real Jesus known by so many. The New Testament is the accurate arrow to the past.

The New Testament introduces us to Jesus so that, by faith, we can know Him as Lord, Savior and Friend. We can experience His care and power. We can say,

“He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead“ (1 Peter 1:3).

“Hope” need not rise and fall with our feelings. “Faith” can rest on a better foundation than traditions from where we happened to be born. True faith and hope are firmly rooted in the reality revealed by God Himself. He gives you one life. He longs to fulfill the potential for which you were created. He empowers you to re-write your life story. Let His story touch your personal story, and forever turn it into GOOD NEWS!

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