Why I Believe in Jesus Christ (Jesus, Truth for the 21st Century)
Pastor Tan Thai · Dec 9, 2018
This sermon presents five unique aspects of Jesus Christ — his self-claims, atoning death, resurrection, exaltation, and gift of the Holy Spirit — as the foundation for Christian faith. Drawing on John Stott's Harvard lecture, the pastor argues that Jesus is not one among many religious options but the singular Truth who fulfills all prophecy and redeems humanity through the cross.
The sermon opens with the account of the apostle Thomas encountering the risen Christ (John 20:26-28) to pose its central question: how can we believe in Jesus Christ when we cannot see him with physical eyes? The pastor emphasizes that Christianity is uniquely different from all other religions in that faith is inseparably bound to the person of a real historical individual, not to an abstract system of ethics or doctrine. The answer is not found in relativism, syncretism, or pluralism, but in the person of Jesus Christ as recorded in the four Gospels.
The body of the sermon develops five unique aspects of Jesus Christ. First, his self-claims are extraordinary: he declared himself sinless, eternal God, the fulfillment of the entire Old Testament, and the one with authority to forgive sins and judge all nations — claims no other religious leader has ever made. C.S. Lewis is quoted to argue that Jesus is either truly Lord or a madman, and cannot merely be a great moral teacher. Second, his death on the cross is the once-for-all atoning sacrifice (Hebrews 7:24-27; 1 John 2:2) — not the death of a failure but the greatest act of God's love for sinful humanity, as illustrated by the testimonies of Kagawa and the missionary Sundar Singh.
Third, the resurrection of Jesus is the indispensable foundation of faith — if he did not rise, faith is futile (1 Corinthians 15:14, 17-18). Evidence includes the empty tomb, post-resurrection appearances, and the remarkable transformation of the apostles and the emergence of the early church. Fourth, after his resurrection Jesus was exalted to the highest position in the universe, seated at God's right hand, with every knee in heaven, on earth, and under the earth bowing in worship (Philippians 2:9-11). Fifth, Jesus gave the Holy Spirit as the Comforter and Spirit of Truth to dwell in and with believers forever, enabling them to understand Scripture, live holy lives, and have assurance of salvation.
The pastor uses vivid illustrations to apply these truths practically. The story of Indian missionary Sundar Singh — who answered that what he found in Christianity was not a doctrine but Jesus Christ himself — demonstrates that the faith is a personal relationship, not a system of thought. The testimony of Japanese writer Kagawa on the uniqueness of the cross, and the prayer at the funeral of former U.S. President George H.W. Bush, illustrate that before God all who receive Christ are equally his children, regardless of social standing.
The sermon concludes with a personal invitation: the five unique aspects of Jesus Christ are not merely theological arguments but the foundation for real life transformation. Salvation is a gift God gives to those who receive Christ, bringing them from the mire of sin to the foot of the cross, and granting them the dignity of being his sons and daughters — a dignity no earthly power can bestow.