The title of this post might sound like blasphemy to most of evangelicalism, but it isn't. Not according to Scripture.

What I am saying is that the findings of Lee Strobel, as great as they are, are not why I believe in Jesus. Not even in principle.

While some of his facts are interesting and even somewhat compelling, Strobel's journalistic and logical approach is not the reason why I believe in Jesus. Let me explain.

I believe in Jesus because God the Father has drawn me to Jesus.

I believe in Jesus because the Holy Spirit has enlightened me--because He has opened my eyes.

I believe in Jesus because only in Jesus do I find ultimate truth and goodness and love and meaning and spiritual life.

I believe because His Word the Bible is truth itself.

That's why I believe.

Is that circular reasoning? Maybe, but it is also the direct reason whey I believe in Jesus. God the Creator and Jesus the Savior are self-authenticating. God needs not to appeal to anything outside Himself to prove Himself to you.

I just watched "The Case for Christ" DVD, and I think Lee Strobel's wife had it right. She said that she does not believe in Jesus because of all these logical and forensic reasons that concern her husband.

God bless her.

The Holy Spirit can use all of these things, but they are not the reason why most people believe in Jesus. Most people believe because of a direct spiritual revelation that happens in their conscience.

Many people are not afraid of Hell--because they don't believe it is real. But they would fear God's judgment of Hell if God made them spiritually alive.
Then they would immediately believe.
Ironically, they would fear Hell the very moment that they were forever out of eternal danger.

People also do not believe because there are so many good and logical reasons to do so. They do not believe because believers are loving and show them love.

The Scripture gives us the reason why people come to true faith in Jesus: God the Father personally draws them. God's Holy Spirit gives them spiritual life and convinces them. They see the goodness and truth and love and meaning in Jesus through His death on the cross and His resurrection. We come to faith through a direct experience with God Himself.

No one can be argued into faith. If they could, evangelism would be a purely academic matter. But it isn't, because reason and logic cannot take anyone all the way. Jesus will prove Himself to you, directly. No proof is greater than Jesus Himself. Jesus Himself is the greatest proof that He is God and Savior. Nothing else is above Him.

Not even the facts surrounding His life.

Not even Lee Strobel's arguments for Him.

Not even Strobel's Case for Christ.