If ancient texts of many faiths can be believed, there has been no Jewish Messiah. The one who the Jews believed would come to save them from their sins has not appeared. If Jesus survived crucifixion and continued his ministry to several ancient cultures, the Christian faith is baseless. However, history itself has to be rewritten to support this belief.
The main refutation of this theory is the Christian scriptures, the Bible. Of course, it's to be assumed that this book of history and doctrine of the Christian religion should follow the 'death on the cross' story line. However, there are many reasons why the scriptures carry more weight than other ancient documents.
The Old Testament is supported by archaeology. When the Bible tells of an ancient civilization, monuments or other enduring evidence supports its existence. The New Testament, made up of four Gospels and writings of the apostles, has the distinction of being based on the earliest known documents, dating from around 100 AD. The life of Plato, in contrast, is revealed in writings 500 years after his death.
For another, the 'eyewitness' accounts are remarkably similar. They are consistent enough to be acceptable as evidence in a secular court of law. The events of Jesus' life, as well as many of his deeds and sayings, were recorded by Matthew and John, who were with him during his three years of ministry in Israel, and by Luke and Mark, who were contemporaries of his followers and wrote after the crucifixion.
Under Jewish law, given by God to Moses, only a blood sacrifice can atone for sin. Jesus's own testimony was that he would suffer and die, to be raised again in three days. If he did not die on the cross, lie in the grave, and rise again, the plan of salvation has not been fulfilled. Paul stresses in his epistles that Jesus's death and resurrection are the foundation of all belief in eternal life with the holy creator.
His resurrection symbolizes the 'new life' all believers receive after believing that Jesus dies for their sins and rose again. The great gift of salvation does what mankind cannot do in reconciling sinful man with a holy God. The Lamb of God, the Messiah, was the perfect, sinless sacrifice that God had planned from the beginning.
Significant proof of the truth of this plan and its fulfillment are the hundreds of prophecies found in the Old Testament. Prophets who lived centuries before the birth of the Messiah foretold events of his life, death, and resurrection. However, no prophets foretold that the Son of God would travel to other cultures - although they did reveal that his truth would set all men free.
The sufferings of anyone nailed - not bound - to a cross are horrific, but mere suffering does not qualify anyone to be the propitiation for the sins of the whole world. It is the resurrection that brings this assurance and the hope of eternal life to anyone who believes, accepts, submits, and follows.
The main refutation of this theory is the Christian scriptures, the Bible. Of course, it's to be assumed that this book of history and doctrine of the Christian religion should follow the 'death on the cross' story line. However, there are many reasons why the scriptures carry more weight than other ancient documents.
The Old Testament is supported by archaeology. When the Bible tells of an ancient civilization, monuments or other enduring evidence supports its existence. The New Testament, made up of four Gospels and writings of the apostles, has the distinction of being based on the earliest known documents, dating from around 100 AD. The life of Plato, in contrast, is revealed in writings 500 years after his death.
For another, the 'eyewitness' accounts are remarkably similar. They are consistent enough to be acceptable as evidence in a secular court of law. The events of Jesus' life, as well as many of his deeds and sayings, were recorded by Matthew and John, who were with him during his three years of ministry in Israel, and by Luke and Mark, who were contemporaries of his followers and wrote after the crucifixion.
Under Jewish law, given by God to Moses, only a blood sacrifice can atone for sin. Jesus's own testimony was that he would suffer and die, to be raised again in three days. If he did not die on the cross, lie in the grave, and rise again, the plan of salvation has not been fulfilled. Paul stresses in his epistles that Jesus's death and resurrection are the foundation of all belief in eternal life with the holy creator.
His resurrection symbolizes the 'new life' all believers receive after believing that Jesus dies for their sins and rose again. The great gift of salvation does what mankind cannot do in reconciling sinful man with a holy God. The Lamb of God, the Messiah, was the perfect, sinless sacrifice that God had planned from the beginning.
Significant proof of the truth of this plan and its fulfillment are the hundreds of prophecies found in the Old Testament. Prophets who lived centuries before the birth of the Messiah foretold events of his life, death, and resurrection. However, no prophets foretold that the Son of God would travel to other cultures - although they did reveal that his truth would set all men free.
The sufferings of anyone nailed - not bound - to a cross are horrific, but mere suffering does not qualify anyone to be the propitiation for the sins of the whole world. It is the resurrection that brings this assurance and the hope of eternal life to anyone who believes, accepts, submits, and follows.
