Josephus does not tell us that Christianity is true, and Christians do not need Josephus to tell them that Christ is risen. But Christianity makes claims about things that happened in public history under identifiable rulers, priests, and governors. For that reason, testimony from outside the church matters.
Today, the longing for cultural Christianity on both the left and the right hearkens back to an older version of Christendom that was a mixed blessing for the church in the western world. The cultural mediation of Christian views on created order has certainly benefitted the civilization we’ve inherited. But the gospel itself isn’t something that can be reduced to cultural mediation either. Instead, the gospel as a message stands apart from all human accomplishments and achievements, no matter how beneficial they might be.
The student of Scripture should always have a map open next to their Bible as they read. If possible, they should also travel to Israel, not to make a pilgrimage, but to see the context of the land in which these stories took place. These are not fairy tales made up about fictional fantasy lands; these are stories about real people in real places interacting with a real God.

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His successes were not the result of his brilliance, might, and ability as an apostle. They were the result of the all-sufficient grace of God.
Sing of Jesus’ Easter victory for you, and watch Satan flee with his worries and cares!
This is the Christian word: grace. Such grace is found only with this Lamb who is also our Shepherd.
God wants his word of promise to be the only thing we bank on, the only thing we have confidence in.
May you believe, in this thin-line world, that this Jesus is for you, not against you.
Christ's words of exclusive salvation are not just a warning but a sure promise for you.
Jesus cries on the cross for us. He suffers and cries and dies in our place. He is forsaken by his father so we don’t have to be.
Although Jesus bodily ascended and is hidden from our earthly eyes, he is not far off.
A father's struggle to pray for his child's healing is one of the most difficult experiences he can face.
The story of salvation is the true story of God doing his unexpected work of salvation for us.
Paul is writing as a man who has already lived a life of law-keeping while denying the resurrection.
Paul thinks the consequences of Christ not being raised are worse for those who believe than those who never did if it were to be true Christ was not raised.