Doubt: To be uncertain or lack confidence in.
3 types of doubt:
Doubt can be a
..if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless. —1 Corinthians 15:17 NIV
Jesus Appears To Thomas
24Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” —John 20:24-25 NIV
The Purpose of John’s Gospel
30Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. —John 20:30-31 NIV
Let’s look at some accounts from historians who recorded evidence of early Christianity.
“Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called “Chrestians” by the populace. Christus, the founder of the name, has undergone the death penalty in the reign of Tiberius, by sentence of the procurator Pontius Pilate. The pernicious superstition was checked for a moment, only to break out once more, not merely in Judaea, the home of the disease, but in the capitol (Rome) itself. Mockery of every sort was added to their deaths. Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burnt, to serve as a nightly illumination,
when daylight had expired.” —Excerpt taken from Annals by Tacitus, A Roman Historian
“I have never participated in trials of Christians. I therefore do not know what offenses it is the practice to punish or investigate, and to what extent. And I have been not a little hesitant as to whether there should be any distinction on account of age or no difference between the very young and the more mature; the whole of their guilt or error was that they were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, and of singing in alternate verses a hymn to Christ as to a god, …and to bind themselves by a solemn oath, not to do wicked deeds, but never to commit any fraud, theft, or adultery, never falsify their word, Nor to deny a pledge when they were called upon to deliver it up. After this it was their custom to separate, and then reassemble to partake of food –but ordinary and innocent food… I judged it all the more necessary to find out what the truth was by torturing two female slaves who were called deaconesses. But I discovered nothing else but a depraved, excessive superstition. I therefore postponed the investigation and hastened to consult you.” —Letters from Pliny the Younger to the Emperor Trajan
At this time there was a wise man called Jesus, and his conduct was good, and he was known to be virtuous. Many people among the Jews and the other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. But those who had become his disciples did not abandon his discipleship. They reported that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion and that he was alive. —Josephus, Antiquities 18:63
[Ananus] convened the judges of the Sanhedrin, he brought before them the brother of Jesus who was called the Christ, whose name was James, and certain others. He accused them of having transgressed the law and delivered them up to be stoned. —Jospehus, Antiquities 20:200
Great
If you have questions about the Christian faith, we would encourage you to read these works, authored by strong Christians who were once skeptics themselves:
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Josh McDowell, Evidence That Demands A Verdict
Lee Strobel, The Case For Faith
Back to our account with the Apostle “Doubting” Thomas…
24Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
26A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
29Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” —John 20:24-29 NIV
Belief: Conviction, confidence or trust which is placed in some person or thing.
Like doubts, there are different kinds of belief:
Be sure to join us next week as we tackle more types of doubt!