Facts and faith are different things, and both are necessary. In Acts 17 and 1 Corinthians
15 Paul exhorts his readers and listeners toward an
examination of the facts. Paul clearly believed that the facts of creation, Jesus' life,
death, and resurrection, made his case for the deity of
Christ reasonable. Facts rarely prove a point but they do indicate its reasonableness.
(That is why in a court room you are asked to convict beyond a "reasonable" doubt, they
don't say beyond any doubt). What matters in faith is the object of our faith. I can
believe the sun will not rise tomorrow, but the facts argue that this is not a
reasonable faith. The same is true of our faith in Christ. I cannot prove that he lived,
died, and rose from the dead, but I can gather facts of history which make that conclusion
not only reasonable, but I believe, compelling. Based on my faith in the reality and
person of Jesus Christ, I also have faith in the truth of what he said about spiritual
things and future events. There are few facts if any to back up his statements, only those
which verify his person and events which are significant enough to believe whatever he
said, but there are no specific facts to back up his claim that He will come again.
I hope this helps.
Ray Bohlin
Executive Director
Probe Ministries