The Father’s Witness

Posted by The Bible In Your Hand on July 31, 2018
Posted in: Christian, Christianity, Religion, Spirituality, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , .

John_1_279115047_stdThe Father’s Witness

37 And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. 38 But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.

The supreme witness to the truth that is in Christ is found neither in human testimony, nor in the words of Jesus. Rather in the voice of God speaking to the human heart. When the Christian knows in his own heart that “the Father himself will borne witness of Christ.” then, the Christian possesses a certainty that surpasses all other assurances.

As Jesus spoke these words, perhaps He thought of that voice from heaven which was heard at His own baptism. Most of members of the Sanhedrin had heard the words of John and they had seen the works of Jesus. But of the third kind of testimony, the witness of the Father revealed to the heart, they knew nothing.

As Jesus had stated, “whom He has sent, you believe not” (vs 38). Hearing human testimony, observing the deeds of Jesus, may come before faith. Yet the supreme proof of the Messiahship and deity of Jesus Christ can be had only after faith has begun to grow. Only through the ear and the eye of faith can the Father be heard and seen. Only then can the word He speaks about Jesus Christ abide in man and understood by men. But when this word does abide in the heart and is understood, then there is no greater certainty of salvation and that Christ is the Messiah

 

Bear Witness

Posted by The Bible In Your Hand on July 30, 2018
Posted in: Christian, Christianity, Religion, Spirituality, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , .

March-24Bear Witness

31 If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. 32 There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which he witnesses of Me is true.  33 You have sent John and he has borne witness to the truth.  34 Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things, that you may be saved.  35 He was the burning and the shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light. 36 But I have a greater witness than John’s for the works which the Father has given Me to finish – the very works that I do – Bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. 37 And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen His form.  38 But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. 39 You search the Scriptures for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

To prevent a case of he said she said, one cannot be a witness for them self.  In order for my testimony to bear any weight of legitimacy there must be another witness on my behalf.  Also the more that can testify on my behalf the more legitimate my claims become.   

This is why Christ starts out this section by saying, “If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. 

Therefore, there must be another that bears witness of Christ.  We have read about John the Baptizer before.  John was born, to bear witness or shed light on the fact that the Messiah, the lamb of God was about to start his ministry.  John bore testimony to the fact that Jesus was the messiah, which was confirmed at Christ’s baptism, by the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove resting upon Christ.

Therefore Christ is building up John and John’s ministry to further his own claim he had been making before the Sanhedrin.  What was this claim? That Christ is the Messiah.  John’s message of repentance and the soon coming of the messiah was the burning of the shining lamp.  It was the gospel message being illuminated before the people.  For a while, you paid attention and were willing to rejoice in the light, but soon you tired of this light, and therefore began searching for another.  As John testified and all Heaven also testified, this is the light that John prophesied of. 

John bore witness that the Father testifies of me and has send me.  But as prolific as John’s teaching and preaching was, it pales in comparison to the works of Him who sent me which is the Father and by the Father’s will, I have performed the miracles you have witnessed.  Therefore the very works that I do bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent me. 

As the members of the Sanhedrin heard these words their hearts grew hard. Unbelief crept into their minds and so they rejected Christ that day.

You and I are not able to see the miracles that Christ performed but we are able to read the testimony of those that saw them take place.  Yet all around us our churches are filled with lives that have been changed by coming into contact with Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. 

So as you read this and contemplate upon the things seen and learned, we each are faced with the same decision the Sanhedrin had to make nearly two thousand years ago. 

Based on the body of evidence and the testimonies of those present, will you accept Christ as your messiah, Lord and Saviour. 

Like the Jews of old, will your acceptance only be for a season, or will it last the rest of your life?

The Work of the Church

Posted by The Bible In Your Hand on July 29, 2018
Posted in: Christian, Christianity, Religion, Spirituality, Uncategorized. Tagged: , .

Church06The Work of the Church

From a human point of view the outlook for the spiritual regeneration of the nation was as hopeless as is the outlook today before God’s servants who are laboring in the dark places of the earth. But the church of Christ is God’s agency for the proclamation of truth; she is empowered by Him to do a special work; and if she is loyal to God, obedient to His commandments, there will dwell within her the excellency of divine power. If she will be true to her allegiance, there is no power that can stand against her. The forces of the enemy will be no more able to overwhelm her than is the chaff to resist the whirlwind.

There is before the church the dawn of a bright, glorious day, if she will put on the robe of Christ’s righteousness, withdrawing from all allegiance to the world.

God calls upon His faithful ones, who believe in Him, to talk courage to those who are unbelieving and hopeless. Turn to the Lord, you prisoners of hope. Seek strength from God, the living God. Show an unwavering, humble faith in His power and His willingness to save. When in faith we take hold of His strength, He will change, wonderfully change, the most hopeless, discouraging outlook. He will do this for the glory of His name.