I'm with you in part, but I have a question. If signs are not proof, then why would Jesus have performed any signs at all? If it were in fulfillment of faith, rather than to show authority or inspire faith, then it were unnecessary. Only people who have no need for a sign can get a sign?
Believe it because I say it is never a legit argument.
Let me ask you the same question I asked Becky: how do you know that the Christian scriptures are divinely inspired?
I'm with you in part, but I have a question. If signs are not proof, then why would Jesus have performed any signs at all? If it were in fulfillment of faith, rather than to show authority or inspire faith, then it were unnecessary. Only people who have no need for a sign can get a sign?
Signs are not the event. Signs point to an event. The event is what is important. It's like driving down the road.. you may not see the Billboard stating 'Wendys - 4 miles on right', yet you may still see the Wendys on the right when you get there. On the other hand, one may see the sign and miss the Wendys altogether. More yet will miss or disregard both.
Signs are there for those who can discern them for what they are. They are put up to point to something. They are not put up for the heck of it or to make men happy. They serve a purpose to God for his people who are able to see the signs and understand where they are leading. Shallow people call miracles a 'sign from God.' They completely miss the importance and like liberal reporters use them for face time to build their self importance while debating what it must mean.
Let me ask you the same question I asked Becky: how do you know that the Christian scriptures are divinely inspired?
I know because I have put my faith in God and through faith the scriptures have been proven in my life. I personally cannot doubt the inspired nature of the NT scriptures. I look at them also as a proof of the OT scriptures. Jesus upheld and taught the law. The things he rejected were the likes of:
* 'tradition' conflicting with or superceding the laws of God. Not working on the sabbath means just that - don't work.
* observing rules instead of obeying God. In other words if I were to say wash the dishes, observing rules would mean dipping the plate in soapy water, running a rag over it's surface, rinsing and drying, then putting away. Obeying God would be to ensure that whatever the process, the plate actually got cleaned.
.... just to name a couple of things. He otherwise upheld the law.
Many wish to pretend that the law was just written by men for men to follow. That is a strict secular interpretation that has no basis in reality when it comes to Jew or true Christian. The difference between Jew and Christian is that Jews understand obedience for the most part. Christians generally have to learn it.
So, again, I accepted Christ on faith in his word. That faith has been fulfilled. In the fullfillment, it proves all scripture. The OT becomes as real as the NT at once because the NT is a story of the Messiah fullfilling the OT and reinforcing it. And that is why I reject any 'religion' that thinks it can wontonly add to scripture and usurp authority it does not have. The first true test of Christian Doctrine is a simple one, if absent the impact of the messiah the doctrine is bacward applicable to Judaism without conflict, it is likely on the money. If it cannot meet that test, it is garbage. The same is true with anything claimed to be scripture.