I’m sure some of you are veterans. If you are, you served somewhere either in the United States or on foreign soil. Some of you saw combat flying a plane, driving a tanker, driving a jeep, cooking for the troops, or maybe you were a foot soldier. Some of you were wounded, and most certainly all of you live with the memories of what you heard and saw. Wherever you served, whatever position you held, you were a soldier.
Do you believe in America? Of course, you believe in America and that for which it stands. If you didn’t, you would not have risk your life. You believe in the constitution and our Bill of Rights. Those documents are the foundation of our country. You proudly proclaim your allegiance to our country, because you fought for our freedom.
For most of you who have not been in the military, you believe just as strongly in our country. Most of you have and will defend the principles on which it was founded. You, too, are proud Americans.
I am a soldier, a soldier of Christ. My battles are a different kind. I fight the good fight because I believe in the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the apostles and early Christians we read about in the Bible.
Some say that there is no proof that the Bible is real, or that the testimony of the apostles and early Christians offers no prove of the truth of the Bible. However, the testimony of the apostles and early Christians is proof that the Bible is true.
When the twelve disciples were first chosen, they did not know that this man they agreed to follow was the true, promised Messiah. After Jesus performed His first miracle of turning water to wine, John says they believed on Him (John 2:11). Jesus’ own earthly brothers did not believe in Him (John 7:5). Later, James, his earthly brother, became a Christian and served in the church in Jerusalem (Acts 15:13-29). The writer of the book of Jude was also likely the earthly brother of Jesus. Saul, later called Paul, persecuted the Christians in the first century; but after being taught by Ananias in Acts 9, was baptized and began to preach in defense of the truth.
These are not the only men that suffered for the cause of Christ. The book of Revelation was a warning of the persecution that was to come. A long list of historians testify to the fact that John, the apostle, wrote this book. The persecutions of the Christians have been documented. Let’s look at just one of these historians as proof of what transpired.
The writings of Josephus are important for background sources for early Christians. He provides some details on many events that took place. One of these was the stoning of James, the earthly brother of Jesus. Caesar, the emperor, appointed a new procurator over Judea. He was a Sadducee, a religious sect of the Jews. The Sadducees were rigid in judging those accused of various crimes. The new procurator assembled the Sanhedrin, the ruling body of the Jews, and brought James before them, along with some others. He formed an accusation against them and delivered them to be stoned. (worldhistory.org).
Josephus also records the demise of John the Baptizer. John preached against the adultery of Herod and Herodias. Herodias was not happy with John, and she desperately wanted to get rid of him. Her daughter danced at the king’s birthday party and was granted almost anything her heart desired. On advice of her mother, she asked for John’s head on a silver platter.
Josephus also writes about the apostle Paul. He identified with the Pharisees, another sect of the Jews, during his lifetime. Josephus and his father were most likely in the area Paul was when this apostle was arrested and later killed. (FromtheDesk.org).
Nero was the Roman Emperor known for his persecution of the Christians. One of the key factors in the spread of Christianity was the work of the apostles. Paul, especially, traveled throughout the Mediterranean area. His message was one of hope and salvation. This was different than the worship of idols the people were used to.
Christianity was seen as a threat to the established order. It did not recognize the authority of the emperor over God, and it rejected the idol worship. It also promoted equality among all believers. Nero wanted to assert his power and authority.
After a destructive fire in Rome that may have been caused by Nero, the emperor wanted to blame the Christians. Those who refused to renounce their faith were subjected to horrific persecutions and death. They were fed to animals, torn apart, and even tarred and hung in Nero’s garden where he set them on fire and used them as human torches to light his garden at night.
“Despite the severity of Nero’s persecution, Christianity continued to grow and spread throughout the Roman empire in the centuries that followed.” Nero’s persecution of Christians failed to eliminate Christianity.
We know that all of the apostles, with the exception of John, suffered persecution. Many others also suffered at the hands of the Roman rulers. James, the apostle, was beheaded by Herod (Acts 12:1-2). James, the brother of Jesus, was stoned. John the Baptizer was beheaded for preaching against adultery (Matthew 14). Stephen, a preacher in the early church, was stoned because there were those that disputed his teaching of the truth (Acts 6:8 through 7:1-60). His message was clear. He accused them of their ungodly actions, and they killed him for his beliefs.
Why would these men be willing to die? They died because they believed in Jesus Christ. They believed that He came to earth, lived, died, was buried, and rose again. They believed that He returned to the Father where He sits at His right hand. Stephen told the people that he could see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man was standing on the right hand of God (Acts 7:56). His revelation caused the mob to rush on him and stone him to death.
The testimony of these and others, whether in words or actions, is proof that the Bible is true. Even in the face of death, Christians have for centuries been willing to die for the cause of Christ.
We are fortunate that we are not asked to die if we profess our faith in God and Jesus Christ, His Son. That could still happen. That is why many of you sacrificed so much for our country. You would not have done this had you not known that you were fighting for truth and for freedom. So, it was and is with Christians. The heroes of Scripture stood for the truth and are proof that the Bible is true.
Sandra Oliver