LIBERTY UNIVERSITY JOHN W. RAWLINGS SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
How I Know Christianity is True
A Paper Submitted to
the Faculty of the School of Divinity
in Candidacy for the Degree of
Doctor of Education in Christian Leadership (Ed. D) Department of Christian Leadership and
Church Ministries
By
Mary Gracias
Lynchburg, Virginia
9/2022
How I Know Christianity is True
Because Christianity Teaches the Correct Worldview
Among all the religions and philosophies, how do we know Christianity is true? While
there are many ways to address the question, let's begin by saying that Christianity makes
sense of the world around us. In other words, it presents the most correct worldview based on
the world in which we live. There are three worldviews that lie at the foundation of all religions
and philosophies: theism, naturalism, and pantheism. Theism teaches there is a personal God
who created the universe. Naturalism teaches there is no divine being and that the universe is
the result of time and chance. Pantheism teaches that the universe is eternal and that the
divine is an impersonal force made up of all things. All three worldviews cannot be true at the
same time and if one of them is true, the other two must be false.
The evidence from our study of the universe points to theism. Unfortunately, time will
allow me to go over only three lines of evidence.
The first is the argument from first cause or the cosmological argument, which states if
something exists, it must have either come from something else, come from nothing, or have
always existed. What is the most reasonable conclusion of the three for the existence of the
universe? Scientists confirm that the universe has a beginning. Many call this the "big bang."
Since the universe assuredly has a beginning, the worldview of pantheism bears the burden of
proof. Second, to say the universe comes from nothing goes against responsible scientific
inquiry and human logic. For example, any invention in human history is not brought about
from nothing. It comes from materials and ingenuity that existed before its inception.
Therefore, the naturalist worldview has no logical ground to stand on. The best conclusion is
that the universe is the result of a cause greater than itself. That cause is God.
Second, we have the proof of design or the teleological argument. Complexity and design
point to a designer. For example, although all the parts of a watch are found on the earth, no
one would assume it evolved as the result of natural, unguided actions of chance. Why would
we conclude otherwise when we look at the human brain or the human anatomy, which is
much more complex? The more we discover about the universe and nature, the more we
realize how unlikely it is that this could have all happened by accident. Therefore, the burden of
proof is on the worldviews of naturalism and pantheism, which hold to a position of evolution.
Finally we have the moral argument. All people have a sense of right and wrong. In every
culture, adultery, murder, and stealing are wrong. Where does that universal sense of right and
wrong come from? A moral law code requires a moral Lawgiver who is personal and reflects the
moral law in His character. Since we are made in God's image, we reflect His moral law. C.S.
Lewis stated, "As an atheist my argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel
and unjust. But how had I got this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked
unless he has some idea of a straight line. What was I comparing this universe with when I
called it unjust?"1 Naturalists and pantheists have difficulty accounting for the human
conscience.
For these reasons, theism is the only possible worldview that can remain true to scientific
and philosophical scrutiny.2
Because the Bible is God's Word
Among all the books written by man, none have the credentials that equal the Bible. The
second evidence for Christianity is the Bible, which proves itself to be true and divinely inspired.
The Bible proves itself to be true because it is a historically accurate document.
Thousands of archaeological discoveries confirm its historical accuracy. Numerous civilizations,
rulers, and events once thought legendary by the skeptics have been confirmed by archaeology.
Even miraculous geographic events in Sodom and Gomorrah, Jericho, and Sennachareb's defeat
in the 7th century B.C. have passed the test of archaeological scrutiny.
Another proof of the Bible's truth is in historical records outside the Bible. Numerous
historical records from ancient civilizations confirm the historicity of the biblical accounts. Dr.
William Albright, who is still respected as probably the foremost authority in Middle Eastern
archaeology, said this about the Bible: "There can be no doubt that archaeology has confirmed
the substantial historicity of the Old Testament."3 The historical evidence upholds the premise
that if an ancient historical work proves to be accurate again and again in its detail, we can be
confident that it is accurate on the material we cannot confirm externally.
The Bible's divine inspiration is attested to in its unity. Although the Bible is written over a
1500 year period, written by over forty different authors from different backgrounds, and
covers a host of controversial subjects, it maintains a unified theme and it does not contradict
itself in principle from beginning to end. This indicates that a divine author supervised the
entire process and guided each writer.
Second, we have the remarkable record of prophecy. Hundreds of detailed prophecies are
written years before the event takes place. For example the prophet Ezekiel in chapter 26
describes accurately how the city of Tyre will be destroyed years before it occurs. Daniel
predicts the empires of Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome. Prophecy shows the divine hand of
God because only an eternal being could have inspired the writers to leave such a legacy.
Finally, the Bible answers the major questions all belief systems must answer. Where did
we come from? What is the nature of the divine? What is our relationship to the divine? What
is the nature of man? How do we explain the human predicament? What is the answer to the
human predicament? What happens after death? And how do we explain evil? Any system that
does not answer these questions is an incomplete system. The Bible gives the most complete
and accurate answers to the truly important questions of human existence.
No other book ever written has these credentials. A book written by God would have the
fingerprints of God all over it. The Bible alone has His fingerprints.4
Because Jesus Confirmed His Claims
How do I know Christianity is true? Another source of confirmation comes from the
person of Jesus Christ. Among all men who ever lived, Jesus stands apart from each one.
Throughout the gospels, Jesus claimed Himself to be God. He claimed to have authority over
the law, creation, sin, and death. John 10:30-33 states,
'I and the Father are one.' Again the Jews picked up stones to stone Him but Jesus said to
them, 'I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone
me?' The leaders replied, 'We are not stoning you for any of these but for blasphemy because
you a mere man, claim to be God.'
The Jewish enemies of Christ clearly understood His claims and it is for this reason they
killed Him. His disciples also understood His claim and presented it in their message. Not only
did He make an extraordinary claim; Jesus confirmed it. There are numerous ways in which
Christ proved His claims. I will cover only four.
The first confirmation of Jesus' claims is His sinless life. Jesus' most intimate companions
stated He committed no sin that He needed to repent of. Paul writes of Christ, "God made Him
who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2
Cor. 5:21) It would have been hypocritical of Jesus if He had indeed sinned and never repented,
for He taught all men this principle. Even His enemies could find no sin in Him. Pontius Pilate,
after examining Jesus, stated to the angry mob, "I find no basis for a charge against him." The
Bible declares God is holy and Jesus showed Himself to be holy as well.
The second confirmation is the impact of Christ on mankind. More schools and colleges
have been built in the name of Christ than any other man. More hospitals and orphanages are
built in the name of Christ than any other person. More literature and music are written about
Christ than any other person. More laws and ethical codes are built on His teachings than any
other man. He has had a tremendous impact on every area of culture like no one else.
The third confirmation is the miracles He performed. God's existence makes it reasonable
to assume He would use miracles to confirm His message and messenger. Miracles are a
powerful confirmation because it authenticates the creator's authority over His creation.
Christ's miracles over nature, sickness, spiritual forces, sin, and death displayed this authority
over every realm of creation.
The fourth confirmation is the fulfilled prophecies. Before He set foot on the earth, there
were over seventy specific prophecies made by the Old Testament writers about the Messiah.
The prophecies included the city of birth, His method of execution, His betrayal, the date of His
death, etc. Jesus fulfilled each of these. The probability of His fulfilling just eight of these by
chance is very close to a mathematical zero.
No one has both made the claims of Christ and confirmed them, as He did. His life is
another proof Christianity is true.5
Because of the Resurrection
Jesus further confirmed His claims to be God by rising from the dead. Jesus openly
proclaimed that as God He had authority over life and death. He states in John 11:25, "I am the
resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and he who
believes in me will never die." The resurrection is proof that His claim is true.
Many skeptics have presented alternative theories to the resurrection. Some of the most
famous include: the theory that the disciples stole the body, the disciples went to the wrong
tomb, the disciples hallucinated the resurrection, Jesus did not die but went unconscious on the
cross, and the most recent theory is that wild dogs ate the body of Jesus.
However, these arguments have been shown to be severely flawed and could not account
for all the facts surrounding the events of the resurrection. Many have done detailed analysis of
the evidence and have concluded that the resurrection must be a historical event. The late
Simon Greenleaf, the former Royal Professor of Law at Harvard, performed one of the most
famous of these studies. In his book, The Testimony of the Evangelists, the Gospels Examined by
the Rules of Evidence, he concluded,
They had every possible motive to review carefully the grounds of their faith and the
evidences of the great facts and truths which they asserted; . . . It was therefore impossible that
they could have persisted in affirming the truths they have narrated had not Jesus actually risen
from the dead, and had they not known this fact as certainly as they knew any other fact.
As an atheist, lawyer and journalist Lee Strobel did a two-year investigation on the
resurrection interviewing some of the great scholars on both sides. He finally concluded in his
book The Case for Christ,
In light of the convincing facts I had learned during my investigation, in the face of this
overwhelming avalanche of evidence in the case for Christ, the great irony was this, it would
require much more faith for me to maintain my atheism that to trust in Jesus of Nazareth.6
No one has been able to conquer death by raising himself or herself from the dead. Jesus
by His resurrection proves He is God. For only God, the giver of life has the authority over life
and death. Since Jesus substantiates His claims, we conclude He is divine and what He teaches
is true and authoritative.
Jesus also taught the Bible to be God's Word. Therefore, the Bible is the foundation for all
truth to all of mankind in every culture and for all time. Any teaching that is contrary to those of
Jesus and the Bible are false.7
Because I Have Experienced It
Jesus Christ and the truths of the Bible are not simply facts to be stored in our minds, they
are truths that we are invited to experience in a personal way. God invites us to a personal
relationship with Him. The evidence points convincingly toward Jesus Christ. After reviewing the
evidence, we each must make the decision to move in the direction the evidence is pointing. It
is then that we experience the reality of God in our lives. Although an individual's experience is
a subjective thing, it is part of the proofs that authenticate faith.
When I first heard that the God of the universe loved me and desperately wanted a
relationship with me, I thought it was the greatest news I ever heard. As I began to share my
newfound discovery, I met scholars who seemed to have convincing proof that this was all a
religious fantasy.
As I searched for answers I came across several Christian scholars who were able to
defend the authority of the Bible and the claims of Christ. As I weighed the arguments and
questioned men and women on both sides, I could not deny the overwhelming evidence that
supported the Bible and the claims of Christ. Eventually I came to the conclusion that Jesus
Christ is Lord.
I then realized it was time for a decision. Often we do not have all the answers, but we
move in the direction in which the evidence is pointing. For example, many of us do not really
know for sure if the person we are marrying is the right one. However, we make our decision
based on the evidence we see at the time. If I find that I can communicate with my fiancé, our
personalities are compatible, and that we share the same values, we move in the direction in
which the evidence is pointing. When we make the commitment to marry, then our decision is
confirmed definitively. Till we make the commitment, we base our decision on the evidence at
hand. The same is true with becoming a Christian. Although we do not have all the answers, we
can have enough faith to make a decision. When we commit our lives to Christ, we then
experience the fullness of a relationship with the risen Savior.
It was then that I made the conscious decision to believe in Jesus Christ. I asked Christ to
forgive my sin and invited Him to be the Lord of my life. Although nothing dramatic happened, I
knew I had changed. I experienced the peace that comes from knowing your sins are forgiven. I
experienced the joy of knowing I was placed here with a purpose and that there is meaning to
my existence. Although I still had some questions, sins that I struggled with, and difficult trials, I
had an ever-abiding peace and joy I had never had before.
The more I studied the Bible, the more the world around me began to make sense. I
gained a new understanding in all my academic studies. The complexity of life on earth,
biological organisms, and planets reflected the character and intelligence of a loving Creator
who wants us to enjoy His creation.
My struggles in relationships were the results of selfishness, and a sinful attitude in my
heart. Once I began to follow the principles of Christ's love, my friendships became much more
meaningful and joyous, not competitive. I experienced freedom from living up to others'
expectations because the God of the universe loved me just for who I was.
Notes
1. Lewis, C.S. Mere Christianity. (New York, NY: Macmillan Publishing, 1960), 45.
2. For more extensive discussion read the Probe article, "Evidence for God's Existence " by Sue
Bohlin.
3. Albright, William. Archaeology and the Religion of Israel. (Baltimore, MD: John Hopkins,
1953), 176.
4. For more extensive discussion read my Probe article, "The Authority of the Bible."
5. For more extensive discussion read my Probe article, "The Uniqueness of Christ."
6. Strobel, Lee. The Case for Christ. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing, 1998), 265.
7. For more extensive discussion on the resurrection read my Probe article, "
