I Believe

By Bob Briggs

Death, the final frontier. Ashes to ashes dust to dust. In the end, our physical remains become what they were drawn from in the beginning-the dust of the earth. But is death the end or a portal to another world far from our thinking but as close as our next breath? And with so many opinions on what lies beyond the veil, who or what can we believe? Is there a reputable source that provides answers to life’s greatest mystery? In I believe, Bob Briggs answers this question and more as he presents an apologetic on the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Christian faith.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Dec 8, 2021
• ISBN: 9781665543491

Bob Briggs

Bob Briggs is a free lance writer born and raised in Maine. He is the author of books about his hometown of Hallowell, Maine and the University of Maine at Orno where he graduated with a BA in history. Mr. Briggs was for 10 years a religion writer for the Kennebec Journal. He has worked as a correspondent for the Capitol Weekly and other Maine newspapers.

Book preview

© 2021 Bob Briggs. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 12/07/2021

ISBN: 978-1-6655-4350-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6655-4349-1 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Interior image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Creation_of_Adam#/media/File:Michelangelo_-_Creation_of_Adam_(cropped).jpg

Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission

Planet Earth

W e are all passengers on the spaceship earth.

It is our shared and temporary home.

It was given to mankind to tend with the severe warning that God will destroy those who destroy the earth.

It is inhabited by about 8 billion human beings and countless millions of plant, animal, and insect life forms. It travels in space at an average speed of 67,000 miles per hour- with no one falling off!

Seventy-one percent of the surface of the earth is covered by water. Fossil evidence confirms that it was once surrounded by water.

The ultimate in fine-tuning, the earth rotates on its axis in the perfect position to avoid climatic changes that would destroy all life.

It is unique in our solar system, and perhaps the universe, to have all the complex conditions needed to start and sustain life.

Annihilation threat: There are presently enough chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons that, if deployed, would make the earth uninhabitable for all life forms.

It has an expiration date. Sociologists believe it will soon be destroyed by its inhabitants. Scientists say that the earth will eventually be vaporized by the sun. Scripture says that it will be destroyed by fire on a set date and that there will be the Creation of new heavens and a new earth.

Dedication

T his book is dedicated to Robert Kendall, my cousin and one of the greatest seekers of truth I have ever known. Through such a book as this, he came to know the One who is the way, the truth, and the life.

Bob%20Kendall_3B.png

Acknowledgements

I wish to acknowledge the contributions of the following to the success of this work:

Chris and Sarah Dodge for their unbiased evaluation of the manuscript. My good friend Bob Webster for his comments and support.

To Jim and Vicky Glusker for supporting financially and prayerfully. My family for their encouragement.

My spiritual parents Dave and Marcia Dodge for giving me a firm foundation in the faith.

But most of all to a special friend, the One called alongside to help, The One who has infinite knowledge, wisdom and insight. The One that can be everything to us that Jesus was to the disciples, The Helper, God’s greatest gift to the Christian and the church- The Holy Spirit.

Contents

First Words

Chapter 1 In Salvation

Chapter 2 In Creation

Chapter 3 In Jesus

Chapter 4 In the Resurrection

Chapter 5 In the Jew

Chapter 6 In the Scriptures

Chapter 7 In Things to Come

Chapter 8 In a World View

Epilogue Americas Hope

First Words

I have always been perplexed why people seem to major in minors and neglect the things that really matter. Some call it the tyranny of the urgent. We get so caught up in the business of living that we rarely take time to consider the big questions of life.

And then the Big Question: What becomes of us after we die? What happens after you draw your last breath, your heart beats for the last time, and the life force drains from your body?

This is one of the few eventualities that we all share. Approximately 100,000 souls here today will not see another daybreak tomorrow. Death is the universal foe of mankind. Yet, it is rarely thought about. It is rarely talked about.

Of course, there are many ideas set forth by philosophers and theologians about the afterlife. Some have been vetted out by history, and many have been relegated to myth. But novel ideas continue to spring up to try to make sense of this greatest of mysteries.

In this day, self-styled beliefs in God and the afterlife are increasingly popular. I once encountered a young lady who told me that she was an atheist because God let her grandmother die. And in the next breath, she told me that she worshipped a god that brought comfort and meaning to her life while making no demands of her.

I said, ok, you certainly have the right to believe in anything you want, but is your belief credible? Do you have any evidence to support your claim?

Well, she said hesitantly, not really, but it works for me.

I would never pin my faith and eternal destiny on it works for me or it makes sense to me. At the end of the day, your faith is as valid as to its object.

The Enlightenment also called the Age of Reason, brought us a new way to evaluate ideas and opinions in the hope of finding truth. Old dogma and superstitions were cast aside. Prejudices, opinions, and things handed down were questioned. Slowly the universe began to open as more and more truths were discovered.

This challenge to critical thinking was what initially brought me to seek Jesus, who claimed He was Truth personified. And He told us that the great commandment is to love God with all of your heart, soul, and mind.

I discovered that the religion of Jesus is a historical religion, confirmed by many branches of science, fulfilled prophecy, and the most extraordinary life ever lived. It has held sway with some of the greatest intellects of the past and present, including Sir Isaac Newton- the poster child of the Enlightenment.

Having faith, even if sincerely held, is not good enough. Again, our faith is as valid as its object.

To the knowledge of this writer, Christianity is the only religion that offers an apologetic or rational defense for its faith. Other religions have a believe it or else philosophy. You submit, or you suffer the consequences. For others, faith is a set of traditions held by ancestors for generations. You believe it because they believed it. Christianity says, Come, let us reason together. Isaiah 1:18

I invite you to begin the most fantastic, most challenging journey you will ever undertake- a faith walk. You will never find 100% satisfactory evidence. But what you will find in the religion of Jesus is more than sufficient evidence to build your faith on.

Bob Briggs

I have carefully examined the evidence of the Christian religion, and if I were sitting as a juror upon its authenticity I would unhesitantly give my verdict in its favor. I can prove its truth as clear as any proposition ever submitted to the mind of man. Alexander Hamilton

Chapter 1

I Believe in Salvation

CHAPTER%20IMAGE.jpg

Salvation

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.

—Romans 1:16 (NASB)

Salvation is a broader term in Greek than we often think of in English. Other concepts that are inherent in Soteria include restoration to a state of safety, soundness, health, and well-being as well as preservation from danger or destruction.

—Greek Word Study

And Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples. And behold, a woman who was diseased with an issue of blood for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the hem of His garment; for she said to herself, If I may but touch His garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned about, and when He saw her, He said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

—Matthew 9:20–21

When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him. And a man with leprosy came to Him and bowed down before Him, and said, Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean. Jesus reached out with His hand and touched him, saying, I am willing; be cleansed.

—Matthew 8:1–3

A man is in a great place when he has no one to turn to but God.