There is reasonable proof that Jesus of Nazareth lived but there is no "proof" whatsoever that he was the son of God, or God in a different form if you prefer, and there is no proof he is coming back. That is strictly a matter of faith.

>> Please expand on that. Yes in this lifetime how? Are you expecting the Second Coming in the next few decades? Actually I hope that's the way you meant it, even though I'm not holding my breath. Because faith is not the same thing as empirical proof.

(I apologize for the length of this response, it just takes a lot of words to get this across ....)

No. That is not what I was referring to when I said that it is possible to have empirical proof. But before I expound, please let me state that it is my contention that God has the whole thing set up so that faith is required. Faith is an absolute must in his economy. In the spiritual realm, faith is like money. But without faith it is impossible to please Him (i.e. God ) .....

Now there are two meanings to the word "faith" (for the purpose of this discussion, let's limit it to two -there are probably more). The first describes one's own personal crede, i.e. the Christian faith or the Muslim faith. This meaning of the word is what you were describing when you say "it is a matter of faith." This meaning is generally used to describe people who are embracing a belief system which cannot be proven.

Now the fact that I cannot "prove" my belief system, or the existence of God, for that matter, only underscores my contention that God has it set up that way. Thousands of years ago He spoke through one of His prophets, "The just shall live by his faith." Habakkuk 2:4 Have't you ever wondered why God, if He really exists, didn't just appear to the world and say, "Here I am people."? Because it's a faith system.

The second meaning of the word "faith" signifies a spiritual empowerment. It is this meaning of the word "faith" Jesus was illustrating when He said, "If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." Matthew 17:20.


When a person begins to exercise this kind of faith toward Jesus Christ, then all kinds of spiritual truths are revealed to him. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. John 14:21

This is the empirical truth I spoke of. But it is personal and subjective. You've heard this described in the following ways:

- the person "saw the light" (i.e. Hank Williams)
- the perosn was "born again"
- the person "found Jesus"
- the person "was saved"
- the person "was converted"
- the person "received Christ"

The fact that I cannot prove my belief system to you does not mean that my belief system cannot be proven. It only means I cannot prove it to you. I can get all the proof I need for my own personal internal belief system, but, since it is internal to me, how can I prove it to you? No matter what I say I have seen, heard, or experienced, it will still be a matter of faith to you. This is the dilemna that believers have had throughout the centuries.