Reasonable: Romans 1:1-6
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St. Anselm said that sometimes a Christian’s faith seeks reason. In other words, sometimes, a Christian who truly believes that Jesus is Savior (by grace alone through faith alone) way down deep in his or her inner being—such a person still wants to make sure intellectually that this is a good belief. That it is reasonable. That it has explanatory power. That it is the right thing to believe.
St. Paul was the biggest critic of Jesus and Christians, but at a certain point, he was entirely convinced to recant his doubt and disdain and become a true believer of Jesus as Lord and Savior. In Romans 1:1-6 Paul lists three things that gave him absolute confidence about “the gospel of God” (Romans 1:1):
A. Fulfilled Scripture. “…the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures” (1:2). Jesus of Nazareth fulfills Old Testament Scripture along at least three avenues that we do not have room to develop here because they are so abundant:
a) Messianic prophecy (like the protoevangelium or the various covenants),
b) various specific historical events (like the healing of the blind and lame or the thirty pieces of silver), and
c) typology pointing to Jesus’s role (like Abraham’s provided ram or Ruth’s kinsman redeemer).
B. Empty Tomb. “and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead” (1:4). If anyone asks me why I believe or why Jesus is my Lord, I always say, “because the tomb is empty.”
C. Changed Church. “Through whom we have received grace…including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.” This calling that Paul and all other Christians experience is a summons to change, to leave the old life, and to follow Jesus. No one can take the reality of that true conversion experience away from any of us.
We can use this threefold apologetic to give us rest. In fact we should mark this passage in our Bibles and note the page number on the title page so we can review it. We may need to review these three lines of evidence in at least three times:
1. When we doubt. Pull these three lines out and rejoice. This isn’t silly! Jesus is alive!
2. When we fear. Review these not to debate others into belief but to give you yourself confidence to share with kindness and humility.
3. When we worry. If God can take care of you eternally, he can take care of you presently.
Yes, dear Christian, your faith makes plenty of sense! Grasp it and hold it tight in 2025!