Have you ever stopped and thought about what you believe? Why you believe what you believe? How you know what you believe? Where did you learn what you believe? Every believer should have the answers to these basic questions.
For those who believe Jesus is the Messiah, have you ever considered why you believe that?
When you answer the following questions understand you can’t look back and answer them based on what you know now. If you were to step back in time to see Jesus teach, would you believe him? Why? How would you know he is the Messiah? Would you know enough scripture to believe he was the foretold Messiah or not? What scriptures would you need to know, seeing that the New Testament wasn’t even created yet? Or would you look at him like he’s another crazy cult leader?
Think about it. Think really hard before you answer. Would you follow him from place to place just because he told you to follow him or because he did miracles? Would you leave your family behind to follow him? Would you need to go back and let people know what you were about to do? Or would you leave everything behind him and follow him? Would you even have been looking for him? How would you know to look for him?
Some people today believe the Messiah still hasn’t come. Do you know why they believe that? What signs are they looking for? How do you know the Messiah has already come? How do you know Jesus is the Messiah? Do you have scriptural proof? Or do you believe Jesus is the Messiah because someone told you to believe?
Isn’t it time to find out for yourself? If so, then open your Bible and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you into all truth concerning Jesus Christ. Put aside any ideas you already have about him and allow the Holy Spirit to teach you. Study the scriptures for yourself so you will be able to give a reason why you believe the way you do whenever you are asked.
Scriptures to Help You
Then, starting with Moshe and all the prophets, he explained to them the things that can be found throughout the Tanakh concerning himself. Luke 24:27
Yeshua said to them, “This is what I meant when I was still with you and told you that everything written about me in the Torah of Moshe, the Prophets and the Psalms had to be fulfilled.” Luke 24:44
Philip found Natan’el and told him, “We’ve found the one that Moshe wrote about in the Torah, also the Prophets — it’s Yeshua Ben-Yosef from Natzeret!” John 1:45
For if you really believed Moshe, you would believe me; because it was about me that he wrote. John 5:46
But the Counselor, the Ruach HaKodesh, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything; that is, he will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26
“I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now. However, when the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own initiative but will say only what he hears. He will also announce to you the events of the future. He will glorify me, because he will receive from what is mine and announce it to you. Everything the Father has is mine; this is why I said that he receives from what is mine and will announce it to you. John 16:12-15
The God of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, the glorious Father, to give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you will have full knowledge of him. I pray that he will give light to the eyes of your hearts, so that you will understand the hope to which he has called you, what rich glories there are in the inheritance he has promised his people, and how surpassingly great is his power working in us who trust him. It works with the same mighty strength he used. Ephesians 1:17-19